The man, whom police identified as Maxwell Azzarello, doused himself in a liquid on Friday before throwing conspiracy-theory pamphlets into the air.

A man who set himself on fire Friday outside the Manhattan court where former President Donald Trump’s hush-money trial is being held has died, New York City police said early Saturday.

The man, whom police identified as Maxwell Azzarello, doused himself in a liquid before throwing conspiracy-theory pamphlets into the air.

It happened as the jury selection for Trump’s trial was completed.

The 37-year-old from Florida was taken to hospital on Friday in critical condition, where he later died.

New York City police said early Saturday that Azzarello was declared dead by staff at the hospital, NBC reported. No time of death was given by police.

Trump was in the building to attend jury selection, where he has had a security detail, but the former president left during the incident.

Emergency officials said court security had not been breached in Friday’s incident. The case, which had just completed alternate jury selection, resumed later in the afternoon. Opening statements are expected to begin on Monday.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey told reporters that Azzarello walked into the centre of the park, shuffled around his clothes, opened a backpack, and took out and threw numerous pamphlets on the ground.

The pamphlets were “propaganda-based”, Maddrey said, adding that they were regarding a “conspiracy theory”.

He said the man then pulled out a canister, poured a liquid accelerant on himself, lit himself on fire, fell on a police barrier, and then fell to the ground.

Police said the man entered Collect Pond Park, across the street from the courthouse, at around 1:30 p.m. before setting himself on fire. Bystanders, court officers, and police used coats and fire extinguishers to try to put out the fire and help him, Maddrey said.

New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh told reporters that Azzarello was taken to the burn unit at Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he had been described as alive but in critical condition.

Four NYPD officers and one court officer sustained minor injuries after helping to extinguish the blaze, Kavanagh said.

NYPD investigators were later seen collecting pamphlets that Azzarello had scattered before self-immolating. They have deemed the area safe.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and said the man didn’t appear to say anything before setting fire to himself. Officials said they will now reassess security outside the court.

Police said Azzarello had arrived in New York from his home in Florida sometime in the past week. He had no criminal record in New York, and his family in Florida were unaware that he had travelled to the city.