A PERSON set themselves on fire outside the United States Supreme Court yesterday, said a spokesman – the second incident to raise alarm near the Capitol in Washington in a week.

“At approximately 6:30pm (2230 GMT), an individual went onto the plaza in front of the Supreme Court building and set themselves on fire,” said Supreme Court spokesman Patricia McCabe in a statement.

“This is not a public safety issue,” she said, adding that no one else is injured.

No detail about the person’s health, identity or motive is provided.

“A medical helicopter just landed near the Capitol for a medical emergency,” tweeted US Capitol Police shortly after the incident.

The helicopter landed on the plaza and airlifted the person to a local hospital, said McCabe.

The area was inaccessible and under investigation yesterday.

The incident comes days after the Capitol was evacuated when authorities sounded a threat alarm over a harmless parachute stunt.

The alarm was triggered by a US Army parachute demonstration team’s flyover at a nearby baseball stadium as part of a pre-game show. – AFP, April 23, 2022.