October 5th, 2013
A self-immolation protest occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Friday between the National Gallery Air and the Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Self-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, usually as an act of political protest. In some cultures it has been used as an act of resistance of centuries. Tibetan Buddhists have utilized the act over 120 times.
ABC reports that passers by rushed to the man’s aid. Several of them ripped off their shirts to help put out the flames that eventually burned 80% of protestor’s body,
The New York Daily News reports that “Police responded to reports of a self-immolation at the National Mall on Friday. The man was rushed to a local hospital by helicopter after using fuel to set himself ablaze near the National Gallery of Art in the middle of the mall, which remains closed due to the U.S. government shutdown.”
The self-immolation protest was visible from the Capitol, not long after a car chase that ended with the shooting death of a woman with her baby in the car, outside of the Hart Senate Office Building. As of yet, we only know that the man had an accomplice who helped him. We might speculate about his political agenda, but so far, we have no word. Stay tuned for breaking news on this and other subjects, and watch the video below.
Man dies after self-immolation on US National Mall
BBC News
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| Police have been collecting evidence at the scene of the incident, in the heart of the US capital |
A man who set himself on fire on Washington DC’s National Mall has died from his injuries, police say.
The man poured a can of petrol on himself before setting himself alight on Friday. Police are investigating the motive for the act.
Passing joggers used their shirts to try to extinguish the flames.
The man was so badly burned that he will have to be identified using DNA and dental records, police spokesman Araz Alali said.


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