Man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump's trial in NYC

Donald Trump’s ongoing trial took a horrifying turn after a man set himself on fire outside of the courthouse in New York.

The man was believed to have been in the designated protest area outside the courthouse when he set himself on fire.

The unidentified man is said to have set himself alight as the former president’s hush money trial got underway in Manhattan on April 19.

According to reports the shocking incident took place just across the street from the 100 Centre Street courthouse around 1.30 pm (local time).

Police and medics respond after a man set himself alight. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump is believed to have been preparing to leave the courthouse before the man set himself on fire.

Video footage of the incident has already begun to spread online and a police officer can be heard saying ‘somebody set themselves on fire’ in one of the clips.

Footage showed he was in a seated position while completely engulfed in flames, and people were eventually able to rush over with fire extinguishers.

The man was seen being taken away by medical personal after the fire was put out.

A witness outside the courtroom, identified as Dave, spoke to the New York Post and explained the scene as it unfolded.

“I heard this clattering and it was these papers that he had flung up and they clattered to the ground,” he said.

A police spokesperson said that the NYPD responded to the incident after a 911 call. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

“Then he pulled out a can and he poured it over himself. At that point, I thought ‘oh this could be awful’.

“And after pouring himself with obviously something flammable he took out, I think, a lighter then he lit himself on fire."

Dave also said seconds before the man set himself a light a person yelled don’t do it.

“[The incident was something] I never wanted to see,” he said.

“It’s going to be in my nightmare, It happened pretty fast.”

A police spokesperson has now said that the NYPD responded to the incident after a 911 call.

The spokesperson confirmed that the individual has been taken to hospital and is in a critical condition. They added that there were 'no additional safety concerns at this time'.

The police are expected to hold a press conference shortly to reassure the public about the incident that took place.