- A lone protester has set himself on fire outside New Zealand’s parliament
- Emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving calls just before 4pm
- Police have blocked all entrances to Parliament grounds and set up a cordon
- The injured man is in a critical condition and has been taken away by ambulance
A lone protester has set himself on fire outside New Zealand’s parliament.
Emergency services raced to the scene after receiving multiple calls at 3:50pm, according to a Wellington Free Ambulance spokesman.
Police confirmed in a statement a man set himself alight.
The protester is in a critical condition and being treated by ambulance staff.
A lone protester has set himself on fire outside New Zealand’s parliament (pictured)
Emergency services raced to the scene (pictured) after receiving multiple calls at 3:50pm, according to a Wellington Free Ambulance spokesman
Fire crews and police are on the forecourt at Parliament grounds, and all entrances are being blocked by police, The NZ Herald reported.
The injured man has been taken away in an ambulance with sirens blaring.
Witnesses reported seeing smoke outside the building. What appears to be a protest sign is lying inside the cordoned-off area.
The sign may to refer to child custody issues, as words are visible talking about taking mothers away from kids and the ‘murdering of fathers’.
Parliamentary Services issued a notice saying the forecourt and front lawn of the parliament building ‘has been declared a crime scene’.
The protester is in a critical condition and being treated by ambulance staff (pictured)
Speaking to the media at 3:15pm (5:15pm NZST) Senior Sergeant Glen Turner said police are appealing for information from members of the public.
‘We are treating the scene as a crime scene, which is standard procedure,’ he said.
Senior Sergeant Turner said it was too early to confirm the man was protesting, but that is one of the lines of enquiry being pursued.
The man’s identity has yet to be established.