Person sets fire to papers inside NYC courthouse, injures 17 as judge in Trump fraud trial forced to evacuate
An apparent arsonist started a small fire Wednesday inside Manhattan Supreme Court four hours after testimony wrapped up in former President Donald Trump’s $250 million civil fraud case.
Three floors were evacuated and more than a dozen court officers suffered minor injuries after the suspect set papers on fire inside the fourth floor of the courthouse and then discharged a fire extinguisher to put out the flames at around 4:15 p.m., court spokesperson Al Baker said.
The judge at the head of Trump’s closely-watched trial, Arthur Engoron, was among those forced to flee the building, Baker said.
Trump was not inside the courthouse at the time of the fire.
The FDNY responded to the scene after receiving a report of a “suspicious odor,” likely caused by the fumes of the fire extinguisher, according to a spokesperson for the department.
In total, 17 people suffered minor injuries and two of those — a sergeant and a court officer — were taken to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital for observation, while the other 15 refused medical attention at the scene, according to Baker and the FDNY.
All of the wounded were court officers, Baker said.
Some of the injured were coughing due to the chemicals released by the fire extinguisher, police said.
Court officers took the individual responsible for the blaze into custody.
