A man set himself on fire in a park close to the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday.
Footage shows smoke coming from behind cars parked at the Ellipse park and police arriving on the scene. The White House can be seen in the distance.
The Secret Service confirmed the incident by Twitter. “At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid.”
According to reports, the man was taken to the hospital in a critical condition.
The identity of the man or the reasons for the act have not been disclosed by authorities.
This is the second time this year that a situation of the kind has taken place in the White House surroundings. On April 12, a man set fire to his coat in front of the US President’s residence.