An active-duty serviceman from the US Air Force is currently in critical condition in hospital after setting himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.
The disturbing incident occurred on Sunday (February 25), with videos circulating on social media showing the man - identifying himself as Aaron Bushnell - dressed in military gear and saying: "I will no longer be complicit in genocide."
After playing his recording device on the ground, the man then covers himself in an unknown liquid and states that the pain he is about to entire is nothing compared to the suffering of Palestinians amid Gaza's deadly conflict with Israel. "I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest," he adds.
He then sets himself ablaze, while repeatedly yelling "Free Palestine".
After collapsing on the ground, nearby police officers scrambled to extinguish the flames, per CNN.
In a statement to CNN, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department said: The Metropolitan Police Department responded to the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, at approximately 1:00PM, to assist the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy in the block."
Additionally, US Air Force spokesperson Rose Riley has confirmed that the individual in the video was indeed a serving member of the military group, saying: "I can confirm an active duty Airman was involved in today’s incident."
DC Fire and EMS officials quickly transported the man to a nearby hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
The Israeli Embassy confirmed that none of its staff were injured in the incident, according to Tal Naim, a spokeswoman for the embassy, The New York Times reports.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department says it is now working with the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the incident.
Footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media platforms and is believed to have been live-streamed on Twitch. The video has since been removed from the platform for violating its guidelines.
Officials have not confirmed the identity of the man in the video at this time.
This incident comes just two months after a person set themselves alight outside of the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta.
Police described that incident as "an extreme act of political protest".
