The man was rushed to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with injuries described as “critical and life-threatening.”
A serving US Air Force officer was in critical condition in a hospital after reportedly setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday afternoon and livestreaming the results. A distressing video was broadcast and uploaded to the social media channel Twitch on Saturday afternoon.
In the disturbing video, a man is seen dressed in combat uniform standing in front of the embassy gate and identifying himself as a member of the US Air Force as he declares, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.” The New York Times and reported officials confirming that the footage matched the person involved in the incident.
Shocking Scene
“I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” the man apparently said before setting himself alight and repeatedly shouting “Free Palestine!” the US Air Force officer shouts as flames spread over his body.
The name used by the man in the video, which has not been revealed publicly, reportedly matches a LinkedIn account for an active-duty Air Force officer from Texas, according to the Times.
A spokesperson for the Air Force told Task & Purpose that the person is an active-duty airman.
