Before the shocking incident outside the New York courthouse, the man who set himself on fire was unknown to police.
Max Azzarello, 37, had recently started posting anti-establishment “conspiracy theories” online, including a lengthy article on Substack which blasted corrupt politicians, and billionaires and even made reference to The Simpsons.
Police officials confirmed that Azzarello appeared to have posted a statement on social media. An official at the briefing described the papers he threw in the park as "like a conspiracy-theory type of pamphlet."
Although the incident took place close to the court where Trump's trial is taking place, officials said Azzarello did not appear to be targeting any particular person or group and added that he seemed to be a conspiracy theorist.
Four officers who responded to the fire suffered minor injuries.
The police also said that Azzarello arrived in New York "sometime earlier in the week."
"We have his car being in St. Augustine, Florida, on (April 13). So, anywhere between the 13th and today, he arrived," one official said. "We spoke to family members — they were unaware that he was even in New York."
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