Man sets himself on fire on White House lawn

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A man set himself on fire on the White House lawn. Nearby streets have been cordoned off and the man has been rushed to hospital.

Emergency services are said to have surrounded the scene in Washington DC. The Secret Service has tweeted: "At approximately 12.20pm. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting (National Park Service) and (US Park Police) in rendering first aid."

Footage posted on social media shows police rushing to the scene. Shortly after a large cloud discharges from what appears to be a fire extinguisher.


A spokesman for the Washington Fire Department told CNBC: “I can confirm that we’ve transported one patient with burns from the Ellipse and we’re now on the scene assisting law enforcement."

The man's condition is not known at this stage.

The White House has not commented officially on the incident yet.