Fire officials and police in Washington, D.C., swiftly responded to an alarming incident outside the Israeli Embassy on Sunday afternoon, where an active-duty Air Force member reportedly set himself on fire. According to DC Fire and EMS, they received a call just before 1 p.m. regarding a person ablaze outside the embassy premises.
Upon arrival at the scene on the 3500 block of International Drive NW, officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by U.S. Secret Service members.
D.C. police which was called in to assist the U.S. Secret Service, responded promptly to the situation.
The Secret Service stated that its uniformed division had been dispatched in response to a person experiencing a possible medical or mental health emergency.
The airman was subsequently transported by DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Additionally, DC police reported that its explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene due to a suspicious vehicle that may be linked to the individual involved in the incident.
U.S. Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek confirmed the involvement of an active-duty Airman in the episode. Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy indicated that the man’s identity remains unknown, emphasizing that no embassy staff were harmed during the distressing event.
More details later…
