Emergency services in the US have reported that a man has lit himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC.
The incident occurred around 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Officers from the US Secret Service put out the fire before the man was rushed to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, according to the city’s fire department.
A US Air Force spokesperson later mentioned to US media that the individual was an active-duty airman.
The Washington police department is currently conducting an investigation in collaboration with the Secret Service and other relevant authorities.
According to a statement from the police in the US capital, the incident occurred at the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, around 1:00 pm.
Officers were sent to aid the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy on that block.
The statement mentioned that a man was taken to the hospital and is currently in critical condition.
A video circulating on social media appears to show a man yelling “Free Palestine” while burning, according to reports from US media.
A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the location due to suspicions regarding a questionable vehicle possibly linked to the person.
It was later confirmed to be safe once no hazardous materials were found.
Incident Near Israeli Embassy: Staff Unharmed, Unrecognized Self-Immolation
No embassy staff members were harmed during the incident, as confirmed by a spokeswoman for the embassy in a statement to the New York Times.
According to a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry, the man was not recognized by embassy staff.
The act of self-immolation in front of an Israeli diplomatic office in the US is not new.
In December, a protester self-immolated in front of the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia.
Authorities stated that the protester utilized gasoline, and a flag from Palestine was discovered at the location during that incident.