Man sets himself on fire on White House lawn

The U.S. secret service tweeted this evening: 'At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave.

‘Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid.’ 

The streets around the White House have been cornered off by emergency services. 

The man’s condition is not known however a spokesman for the Washington fire service said that he had been taken to hospital. 

He told CNBC: ‘I can confirm that we’ve transported one patient with burns from the Ellipse and we’re now on the scene assisting law enforcement.’ 

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