What to Know
- A man was arrested in Lower Manhattan after claiming he was going to light himself on fire, police said
- The man said he was pouring flammable liquid on himself Monday afternoon; authorities are testing what the liquid was
- There is no threat at this time, the senior official said, as well as no known motive
A man was arrested in Lower Manhattan after claiming he was going to light himself on fire, police said.
The man, who a senior official said is from Colorado, said he was pouring flammable liquid on himself Monday afternoon near the World Trade Center. He was taken in custody shortly after, and authorities checked to see what the liquid was to see if it was in fact flammable.
Officials also checked a small bag he had on him at the time, which was later deemed to be safe.
Authorities hailed an officer's "quick reaction and training" in preventing the man from going through with the self-immolation near West and Vesey streets.
The senior official said there no known motive.
The incident drew a heavy police presence to the World Trade Center site and prompted the closure of nearby roads, snarling rush-hour traffic.
Local
It is not clear if the man was attempting to protest something, an official said. He was being transported to Bellevue Hospital.
