A man who set himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has died.

Maxwell Azzarello, 37, soaked himself in liquid before throwing conspiracy theory pamphlets into the air.

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

He was taken to hospital on Friday in critical condition, where he later died, the BBC’s US partner CBS News confirmed.

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

New York City police said early Saturday that hospital staff pronounced Azzarello dead, NBC reported.

Courthouse security was not breached in Friday’s incident, emergency officials said. The case, which had just completed alternate jury selection, resumed later that afternoon. Keynote addresses are expected to begin Monday.

Investigators said they had received a 911 emergency call at around 1:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. BMT) informing them that a man had set himself on fire.

They identified him as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, who had arrived in New York from his home in Florida sometime last week. He had no criminal record in New York and his family in Florida was unaware that he had traveled to the city.

New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said Azzarello was seen “shuffling” in the park before searching a bag for the flammable liquid and pamphlets.

The pamphlets were “based on propaganda”, Chief Maddrey claimed, adding that they referred to a “conspiracy theory”.

There was a massive police presence outside the courthouse due to the trial, and officers quickly ran into the park shouting for a fire extinguisher. Mr. Azzarello was carried away on a stretcher with his body severely burned. Police said he was taken to a hospital burn center in critical condition.

Witness Julie Berman told reporters: “It was hot and it didn’t make much sense. It all happened so fast… it took me like 20 seconds to realize what was happening.”

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

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and said he didn’t appear to say anything before setting himself on fire.

Three NYPD officers and a judicial officer suffered minor injuries after helping to extinguish the fire.

Authorities said they will now reassess security outside the courthouse.