NEW YORK — A Tibetan protester dramatically set himself ablaze outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday evening, capturing the gruesome scene on livestream as horrified onlookers watched in shock.
The 42-year-old activist, identified by friends and Tibetan advocacy groups as Lobga Rangzen (also known as Pawo Lobga Rangzen La), died from his injuries after the self-immolation near East 43rd Street and First Avenue around 7 p.m.
Video obtained by InsiderWire shows the man, dressed in full monastic garb, standing on the sidewalk before flames suddenly erupt around him. Thick black smoke billows into the clear sky as the figure is engulfed, with the horrifying blaze visible against the backdrop of the UN complex and passing traffic. The footage was heavily pixelated for graphic content but still conveys the intensity of the fire.
Moments earlier, the protester planted a Tibetan flag on the pavement and displayed a sign reading “China Out of Tibet,” according to UN surveillance footage and witnesses. He was protesting China’s long-standing occupation and policies in Tibet.NYPD officers and emergency responders rushed to the scene as the man “crumbled to the ground,” sources said. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but did not survive.
The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of New York and New Jersey confirmed the man’s identity and motive, calling it a desperate act to highlight the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule
Self-immolations have been a rare but extreme form of protest by Tibetan activists for years, with dozens occurring inside Tibet and abroad since 2009.
The UN and the Chinese consulate had no immediate comment Thursday night.
The shocking incident unfolded blocks from one of the world’s most iconic diplomatic landmarks as commuters hurried by on a warm summer evening.
