Tibetan activist sets himself on fire outside UN headquarters in NYC

A Tibetan activist is in grave condition after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City, according to reports. He livestreamed the incident.

The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday outside the U.N. complex in Manhattan, where the man began livestreaming from United Nations Plaza before walking into the street with a Tibetan flag.

The man, identified on Facebook as Lobga Rangzen, placed the camera on the ground before holding up papers and setting himself on fire. The papers appeared to include messages reading “Free Tibet” and “China out of Tibet.”

Video from the scene showed bystanders and vehicles passing nearby before security personnel ran toward the man and used fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Firefighters later arrived and performed CPR on him before he was taken away.

The New York Post reported that the man was taken to Bellevue Hospital in grave condition. Officials have not released his name or provided additional details about his condition.

Voice of Tibet reported that the man is a Tibetan activist. A review of his social media showed posts related to Tibet, and a video statement appeared to have been scheduled for publication shortly after the livestream began.

No other injuries have been reported.

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