Man set himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington DC, police said

Authorities said the man, with serious burn injuries and under critical condition, is being treated at the hospital

A man is in a critical condition after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, authorities said on Sunday.

The Metropolitan police department said it responded to an incident on International Drive around 1pm to assist the Secret Service. Fire and emergency services said the man had serious burn injuries.

“An adult male was transported by DC Fire and EMS [Emergency Medical Services] to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition,” the police department said on Twitter/X.

A video posted online which showed a man in a uniform shouting “Free Palestine” as he burned and also identified himself as an active US Air Force member, appeared to be the man in the incident, according to multiple officials, the Washington Post reported. An Air Force spokesperson told the Post they had not identified the man, who was reportedly on fire for about a minute before law enforcement put it out.

The police said an explosive ordinance disposal unit had also been called to the scene in relation to a suspicious vehicle that may be linked to the individual. It later said that no hazardous material was found.

The Israeli embassy said none of its staff were injured.

The embassy has been the focus of protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for a ceasefire to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza with the death toll likely to pass 30,000 this week.

Israeli strikes have killed 29,692 Palestinians in Gaza since October, two-thirds of them women and children, and injured 69,879, according to Gaza health authorities. The offensive followed cross border attacks in Israel by Hamas in 7 October that killed about 1,200 people and in which more than 200 were taken hostage.