A demonstrator sets himself on fire in front of an Israeli consulate

Atlanta Police Chief: “It was likely an act of political protest... There was a Palestinian flag at the scene.”

A person was seriously injured, on Friday, after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, in the southeastern United States, while a Palestinian flag was found at the scene of the incident, according to local authorities.

Atlanta Police Chief Darren Scherbaum said in a press conference on Friday afternoon that it was likely an “act of political protest,” adding, “There was a Palestinian flag at the scene.”

For his part, Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick Smith said that at midday “a security guard noticed that someone was trying to set himself on fire” outside the consulate building. While trying to stop him, the security guard suffered burns.

Smith added that "the two people suffered burns" and were taken to a hospital, noting that the condition of the person who tried to burn himself was "critical."