A man reportedly set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, according to US emergency services. The incident occurred around 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Officers from the US Secret Service managed to extinguish the flames before the man was transported to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, as reported by the city’s fire department.
Later, a US Air Force spokeswoman stated that the man involved was an active-duty airman, according to US media sources.
The Washington police department is now collaborating with the Secret Service and other relevant authorities in investigating the incident.
According to a statement from the police in the US capital, the incident occurred at “the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, at approximately 1:00 p.m”.
Officers were dispatched to “assist the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy in the block”.
“An adult male was then taken to the hospital where he remained in critical condition.”
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows the man shouting “Free Palestine” as he burned, according to US media reports.
Concerns about a suspicious vehicle connected to the individual led to the dispatch of a bomb disposal unit to the site.
However, the vehicle was later declared safe after no hazardous materials were found.
A spokeswoman for the embassy confirmed to the New York Times that no embassy staff members were injured in the incident.
The Israeli foreign ministry stated that the man was not known to embassy staff.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as in December, a protester set themselves on fire in front of the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia.
Police reported that the demonstrator used petrol, and a Palestinian flag was found at the scene on that occasion.