Trump trial fire: Horrifying moment CNN hosts watch on as protester sets himself on fire as they describe his blazing body shaking while 'engulfed in total flames'

This is the horrifying moment CNN hosts watched on as a protester set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York City. 

The dramatic moment took place on day four of the former president's hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court.

CNN reporter Laura Coates, who was covering Trump's trial, first believed the commotion was due to an active shooter. 

'An active shooter is in the park... no a man's set fire to himself outside of the courthouse,' she announced.'

The network's cameras then turned to show the man, still engulfed in flames on the ground. 

Coats later added: 'I cannot ... overstate the emotional response of watching a human being engulfed in flames and to watch his body be lifted into on a gurney.' 

This is the horrifying moment CNN hosts watched on as a protester set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush-money trial

The dramatic moment took place on day four of the former president's hush money trial in Manhattan

The man was seen in a barricaded area near the court  house  setting himself on fire at about 1.30pm Friday. 

NYPD officers arrived after the man doused himself in gasoline and set himself ablaze in front of the world's media, as well as horrified onlookers.

An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com the man was transferred to the hospital in critical condition. 

Shocking video showed the man twitching on the ground while engulfed by flames before another man ran over with a fire extinguisher. 

Witnesses described the incident as a 'political protest' although it was not clear what side he was on.

Witnesses described the incident as a 'political protest' although it was not clear what side he was on

The man was seen throwing flyers on Trump and Biden around before dousing himself and setting himself alight, bystanders said.

After a few minutes, dozens of police officers rushed over and tried to smother the flames.

The man, who appeared to be alive, was loaded into an ambulance and rushed away. 'I've never seen something like that in my life,' eyewitness Charles Udoaka said.

'I was crossing the park and saw a fire and then it just ignited. People were screaming and trying to use a fire extinguisher to put the fire out.'

'It was completely out of the blue,' Kennedy Mack, who was visiting from South Carolina said.

'He started throwing brochures around and then poured gasoline on himself, two or three gallons.

At the nearby courtroom, a jury of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates was selected in Trump's trial.

Judge Juan M. Merchan, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding outside, told newly selected jurors that opening statements are set for Monday at 9.30am.