The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Man apparently sets himself on fire outside Trump Hotel in D.C.

January 17, 2017 at 10:49 p.m. EST
American flags fly outside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., (Zach Gibson/Bloomberg)

A man was burned Tuesday night after apparently setting himself on fire in the street outside the Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, according to a public safety source with knowledge of the incident.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said that arriving rescue personnel found a 45-year-old man who had been using a lighter and an accelerant.

No motivation could be learned.

However, a construction worker in the area said he saw a man surrounded by flames, uttering the name of President-elect Trump in what appeared to be an angry manner.

The incident occurred in the roadway just outside the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

A man was taken to the hospital after apparently setting himself on fire outside the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. (Video: WUSA9)

The man was taken to a hospital with what were described as third-degree burns on about 10 percent of his body.

Demonstrations are expected here on Inauguration Day. It could not be learned whether the fire incident was connected with the protests in any way.