Reports of a helicopter landing on the National Mall this afternoon:
Helicopter just landed on National Mall near 7th Street. Fire trucks, police are blocking off area. #GWU
— The GW Hatchet (@gwhatchet) October 4, 2013
Photo by @Stephanie_Gus shared minutes ago shows a helicopter landing on the Mall: http://t.co/cBeax8RFQC
— Mark Berman (@markberman) October 4, 2013
Oh no:
RT @jackiebensen: Cops rushing to unconfirmed (!) report that someone has set themselves on fire on National Mall. I hope this is not true.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 4, 2013
Very scary if true. This tweeter says she saw it happen:
Just witnessed the craziest thing ever… a man set himself on fire and danced down the Mall. #horrifying
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
A runner and passerby put the flames out. It was incredible.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@wusa9 are you sending someone to the Mall to cover the guy who set himself on fire? Med trans helicopter is landing now.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@ABC7News @DCAbloob I saw a man on fire running down the mall @ 7th street. A bunch of passersby put him out.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@brianstelter Saw a man on fire run down the mall. A runner and another man (with help from several others) put him out.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@brianstelter Saw a man on fire run down the mall. A runner and another man (with help from several others) put him out.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@brianstelter They are transporting him by helicopter from the Mall now.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@ABC7News No, 7th and Contitution.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
More photos:
Massive fire & EMS response on National Mall. Medivac helicopter just took off from scene. Developing… pic.twitter.com/uY155U8nOs
— Jeff Goldberg (@livewirejeffg) October 4, 2013
Picture from the National Mall. Helicopter lifting off, efforting more details. pic.twitter.com/hv6pD20swp
— Brian Sasser (@ProducerSass) October 4, 2013
Police respond to self immolation on the mall pic.twitter.com/QDEo4QiTz3
— Laura Wernick (@wernick7633) October 4, 2013
Lifting self immolated individual from the mall pic.twitter.com/xkaTniVELl
— Laura Wernick (@wernick7633) October 4, 2013
We will continue to monitor this situation and update with developments.
***
Update:
Reuters reporter Myles Miller:
BREAKING : U.S. Park Police helicopter is flying out "an individual that attempted to set self on fire at the Mall."
— Myles N. Miller (@MylesMill) October 4, 2013
The man apparently burned himself as an act of protest.
— Myles N. Miller (@MylesMill) October 4, 2013
This happened at 7th St SW & Jefferson Dr, right near the Hirschorn Museum + National Air and Space Museum.
— Myles N. Miller (@MylesMill) October 4, 2013
The man who set himself on fire, was taken to @medstarwhc.
— Myles N. Miller (@MylesMill) October 4, 2013
More from on-scene tweeter Vanessa Sink:
Scene on the mall when man set himself on fire. pic.twitter.com/lv4qwRxiKp
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
DC police and passerby help man who set himself on fire on the Mall this afternoon pic.twitter.com/XTZc6WaaA2
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
Helicopter to transport man who set himself on fire on the Mall today. pic.twitter.com/y6AFts7Qp6
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
@OKnox I didn't see him light the match, but I saw the flames engulf his body. It was sureal.
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
Dog checking the scene where the man set himself on fire on the Mall today. pic.twitter.com/UzcIHcursx
— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013
NBC Nightly News reports that the man was found conscious and breathing:
JUST IN: Man found on fire on the National Mall, D.C. Police Dept. says; male found 'conscious & breathing'
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) October 4, 2013
***
Update:
Disturbing tweet from a local NBC reporter:
Witness says she saw man pour gas on himself in the middle of National Mall and then set himself on fire as another person video taped it.
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) October 4, 2013
Another on-scene tweet:
https://twitter.com/JTSTheHill/status/386232871025119232
Update:
The man did not survive his injuries.
https://twitter.com/passantino/status/386514454734598144