Man sets himself on fire outside UN headquarters in New York

A man reportedly set himself on fire in front of the United Nations headquarters after planting a flag associated with the Tibetan government-in-exile on the pavement near the scene. According to local media reports and videos circulating on social media, the incident occurred on Thursday at 7 p.m. local time near the intersection of East 43rd Street and First Avenue. As captured by UN surveillance cameras, the perpetrator was seen planting the flag before setting himself alight. He was swiftly evacuated to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition. Reports also mentioned the discovery of several leaflets at the scene containing demands for China to leave Tibet. Local police have launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the flag planted by the perpetrator was observed still flying at the location an hour after the event. Tibet has been under Chinese rule since 1951, which Beijing refers to as a peaceful liberation. The flag flown by the perpetrator before the self-immolation is known to be associated with a failed uprising against the Chinese government in 1959. Following that event, the Tibetan government-in-exile was established in northern India. Beijing does not recognise the government-in-exile and maintains that Tibet has been part of Chinese territory since the 13th century. However, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, asserts that Tibet was an independent country when China’s People’s Liberation Army entered the region.