Secret Service officers managed to extinguish the flames.
New Delhi:
On Sunday, 25-year-old American pilot Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., to protest Israel’s war in Gaza. The dramatic incident occurred at 13:00 local time and was witnessed by onlookers and captured on video live on Twitch.
Dressed in military uniform, Bushnell shouted “Free Palestine” in his final moments before setting himself on fire. While Bushnell was burning, a security guard held Bushnell at gunpoint throughout the incident. Conflicting reports on social media suggested the security guard was either a U.S. police officer or an Israeli embassy guard.
Secret Service officers managed to extinguish the flames, and Bushnell was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where he died.
An Israeli embassy agent held Aaron Bushnell at gunpoint after he set himself on fire as people scrambled to try to save his life.
https://t.co/apVD0joXUH— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) February 26, 2024
The Pentagon called the incident a “tragic incident.” Although embassy staff were not injured, bomb disposal units were dispatched due to concerns about a suspicious vehicle at the scene.
Authorities, including D.C. police, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are actively investigating the incident. The context of Bushnell’s actions and any potential links to wider groups or motives are under investigation.
Aaron Bushnell, of San Antonio, Texas, has military ties that indicate he holds the rank of senior airman, military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported.
The Israel-Gaza war that broke out on October 7 last year continues to attract attention and criticism from the international community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military offensive in an interview with CBS News on Sunday.
