An active-duty Air Force service member set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. on Sunday. The man died hours later, sources told NBC.
In a video spread on social networks, the man was shown repeatedly shouting "Free Palestine" and "he would no longer be an accomplice to the genocide." He further stated, "I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest." All this while burning on fire.
🚨 | Según informes de la policía, un hombre se prendió fuego frente a la embajada de Israel en Washington D.C. mientras afirmaba que ya no sería "cómplice del genocidio" y gritaba reiteradamente "Palestina libre".
📌 Un portavoz de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos confirmó que… pic.twitter.com/z4lp40JdP7
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) February 26, 2024
Law enforcement officers extinguished the flames a minute later (seen in the footage). It is known that the officer was transported with "critical injuries".
The active aviator
The Metropolitan Police Department posted a release to X in which it disclosed that its explosive ordnance disposal unit was called "in reference to a suspicious vehicle that may be connected to the individual," but later reported that there was no risk.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek confirmed by email that the man involved was "an active duty airman." The Israeli embassy reported that no members of its staff were injured.
