New York Police Department released details about the man who set fire to himself in a park outside Donald Trump's trial Friday.
He was identified as Max Azzarello, a self-described "investigative researcher" in his 30s. Police said he came to New York City from St. Augustine, Florida, just a few days ago armed with a number of pamphlets that spread conspiracy theories.
Among the theories was the idea that educational systems were schemes and fronts for the mob, police said.
Police and fire were able to respond in two minutes with fire extinguishers. He was in critical condition in a local hospital's burns unit Friday afternoon.
The NYPD said surveillance cameras showed that Azzarello walked to the park with a backpack on. He came into the area, pulled the pamphlets out, throwing them in the air. He then withdrew a liquid substance, which officers said they believed to be an alcohol-based cleaning product that served as an accelerant, and lit it.
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A Substack under the name of M. Crosby purports to be the man, and it has a headline for his manifesto: "I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial."
"The U.S. government is fully involved in this totalitarian con," the man wrote. "To illustrate its bipartisan support, I’ll note that nearly every participant of the Clinton Global Initiative has ties to cryptocurrency, while two of the biggest tech VCs who participated are Trump associates Josh Kushner and Anthony Scaramucci."
You can watch the NYPD briefing below.
Officials speak after man sets himself on fire near court where Trump trial held | full video www.youtube.com
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