'The worst thing I have ever seen': Traumatized Trump fans react in horror as man sets himself on fire outside hush money trial

Traumatized Trump fans who witnessed a man horrifically set himself on fire outside the former president's hush money trial on Friday shared their shocked reactions. 

Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself in an alcohol substance before taking a lighter to his clothes near Manhattan criminal court.

Fred Gates of Astoria was in a park nearby, he said 'I saw him take a backpack off pull out two cans of gasoline and proceed to take one can and pour it over himself on both sides.'

Gates described yelling for police to come in as people started to run away - himself included. 

'I got half way from the park and that’s when he went,' Gates recalled. 'He threw a bunch of fliers in the air... He had nothing on his t-shirt.'

Traumatized Trump fans who witnessed a man horrifically set himself on fire outside the former president's hush money trial on Friday shared their shocked reactions

Horrifying scenes unfolded outside Donald Trump 's hush money trial on Friday after a man set himself on fire in an act of extreme political protest

Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself in an alcohol substance before taking a lighter to his clothes near Manhattan criminal court

Fliers spotted at the scene of the self-immolation shortly after it occurred. It has not been confirmed if they belong to the victim

The shocked witness described Azzarello as 'very calm' and 'quiet' - adding that he didn't say anything as he lit himself on fire. 

'I first thought it was fake, he was doing some kind of protest where he would use fake gasoline. I didn’t think it was real. It seemed like he was burning for 5 minutes. There was no help. Everybody was screaming and watching this,' Gates shared. 

Kennedy Mack was visiting from South Carolina and said the shocking event was 'completely out of the blue.'

'He started throwing brochures around and then poured gasoline on himself, two or three gallons,' Mack said. 'It was awful why would anyone do that to themselves. I wish we never came this way now.'

Witnesses said that it was a political protest and that Azzarello was throwing flyers about Trump and Boden before he threw gasoline on himself and set himself alight. His sign said Trump and Biden, according to bystanders. 

Devastated eyewitnesses described hearing screams as the man went up in flames

Police officers investigate a canister of flammable liquid left at the scene where a man set himself on fire at Collect Pond Park, outside Manhattan Criminal Court

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

Trump fans were outside of the Manhattan courthouse during the time of the traumatizing fire

Kayley Bruce, who was also on vacation from South Carolina, cried as she recalled the moment Azzarello set himself on fire. 

'I saw him when he was throwing the gasoline,' she said through tears. 'It was bad it was the most horrific thing I’ve seen in my life. It was awful. I just started praying. I didn’t know what else to do. I don't know if he is still alive his body was completely charred.'

Another witness, Charles Udoaka, said 'I’ve never seen something like that in my life.'

He 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.'

Another witness was ordering a hot dog nearby when they turned around and heard people yelling. 'It was crazy, it was scary,' they said.