A 52-year-old man died after he set himself on fire in protest of the Chinese occupation of Tibet outside the United Nations in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday, according to law enforcement sources.
The man was found suffering severe burns throughout his body at 42nd St and First Ave. around 6:30 p.m., cops said.
Extremely graphic video posted online shows the man standing next to the Tibetan flag when his entire body erupts in flames. He appears to flail and takes several steps as the fire consumes him, keeping his feet for more than 30 seconds before he collapses, the footage shows.
A law enforcement source told the Daily News the man was wearing monk’s robes and that fliers that read “China out of Tibet” were found near his body.
Medics rushed the man to Bellevue Hospital, where he died.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending family notification.