Man sets himself on fire near UN headquarters in New York
New York police confirmed the death of a man who set himself on fire near the UN headquarters in Manhattan.
According to a report from the New York Post citing an acquaintance of the deceased, it concerns Tibetan activist Lobge Rangzen. His acquaintance told the publication that the deceased supported the movement for the liberation of Tibet and opposed Chinese control over the region.
He was dressed in full monastic attire. Placing a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk, he set himself on fire on a busy street. After the incident, police found a poster with the inscription "China out of Tibet".
According to media reports, Rangzen was 42 years old, he had lived in the US for about 20 years and worked as an Uber driver.
A call to 911 was received in the evening of July 2. The victim was taken to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
According to media reports, self-immolations by Tibetans as a form of political protest have been occurring since the late 2000s. According to human rights organizations, more than 150 such cases have been recorded in various countries since 2009.
