A Moroccan man who was denied political asylum in Germany suffered severe burns when he doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire in front of shocked passers-by, police said Sunday. The 36-year-old man had announced his suicide attempt in a phone call to police, ahead of his scheduled deportation Monday by German authorities.
When he set himself ablaze Saturday evening, people on the street tried to help douse the flames before police put them out with a fire extinguisher.