Tibetan sets himself on fire outside UN headquarters in New York: Here's what we know

A Tibetan man set himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday (local time), with the horrifying incident captured on live television.

The man, identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, was reportedly protesting the Chinese occupation. The incident occurred at 42nd Street and First Avenue. The protester was dressed in full monastic garb when he placed a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk and later set himself on fire along a busy street during the evening rush hour, the New York Post reported.

The protester, who has lived in the United States for roughly two decades, collapsed to the ground in less than a minute after being engulfed in flames. Almost 15 seconds later, rescuers with fire extinguishers extinguished the flames. Police said Rangzen, 42, was immediately taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Rangzen protested the Chinese occupation of Tibet

The report suggests that the Tibetan flag was still in place for almost an hour after Rangzen set himself on fire and police were investigating the scene. Police were seen at the scene carrying leaflets, one of which read “CHINA FROM TIBET”, a slogan commonly associated with the Tibetan independence movement or the current “Free Tibet” movement.

According to Free Tibet, over 150 people have set themselves on fire in the country since March 2009 to protest what they call “Chinese occupation”.

This is a developing story. Further details were awaited.