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A protester self-immolated on Friday afternoon outside of the Israeli Consulate building in Atlanta, in what the police described as \u201clikely an extreme act of political protest.\u201d<\/p>\n
A security guard tried to intervene but was unsuccessful, officials said. The demonstrator sustained third-degree burns to the body, and the guard was burned on his wrist and leg. Both were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where the protester was in critical condition.<\/p>\n
Officials did not identify the demonstrator, but said in a news conference on Friday that the person appeared to be acting alone and that a Palestinian flag was \u201crecovered at the location and was part of the protest.\u201d The fire chief, Roderick M. Smith, said there was evidence of gasoline being used as an accelerant.<\/p>\n
The authorities did not offer any other insights into the person\u2019s possible motive for self-immolating. The city\u2019s police chief, Darin Schierbaum, said that officials did not believe there was \u201cany nexus to terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anat Sultan-Dadon, consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United States, described the act as an expression of \u201chate and incitement toward Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sanctity of life is our highest value,\u201d she said in a statement on Friday. \u201cOur prayers are with the security officer who was injured while trying to prevent this tragic act.\u201d<\/p>\n
The self-immolation occurred outside a building in the Midtown area of Atlanta that houses the consulate and several other offices.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears to have been focused outside the building. I\u2019m not aware of an attempt to enter the building,\u201d Chief Schierbaum said, adding: \u201cI have met with the consul general. The staff is safe. All the residents of this building are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Atlanta F.B.I. said it was aware of the incident and coordinating with local law enforcement. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n