Trump Trial Judge EVACUATED After Man Sets Fire Inside Courthouse

The judge overseeing the Trump civil fraud trial in New York was evacuated from the courthouse yesterday after someone set documents on fire inside the building.

Hours after testimony in the Trump trial ended, Judge Arthur Engoron was among those whisked from the Manhattan Supreme Court building when a – still unidentified – man lit papers on fire then sprayed them with a fire extinguisher.

The man responsible was arrested when officials responded to the scene.

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🚨🚨🚨MAJOR BREAKING: Judge Engoron was evacuated and a man has been arrested for causing a fire in the courthouse where Trump’s civil fraud trial is taking place.

Here are the details:

"Four hours after testimony wrapped in the civil fraud trial against Donald Trump and the… pic.twitter.com/rtuNCgzuFj

— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) December 14, 2023

Person sets fire to papers inside NYC courthouse, judge in Trump fraud trial forced to evacuate https://t.co/TBPurcOSt3 pic.twitter.com/rGPBnLhV9Y

— New York Post (@nypost) December 14, 2023

Fox News has more details on what happened:

The courthouse in New York City where former President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial has been taking place was briefly evacuated Wednesday, hours after testimony concluded, when a man set papers on fire and then doused them with a fire extinguisher, officials said.

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Firefighters arrived at the New York State Supreme Court Building in lower Manhattan shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday to respond to an alarm on the fourth floor. There was a visible haze in the stairwell between the third and fourth floor, according to an Associated Press reporter who was asked to leave the building.

A man was arrested after setting fire to some documents, said court spokesperson Al Baker. He did not release further details, but said the incident is under investigation. Those who evacuated were allowed to return shortly afterward. No injuries were reported.

The Epoch Times also commented:

The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in Manhattan was evacuated from the courthouse on Wednesday after an unidentified man set documents on fire in the building.

Judge Arthur Engoron, earlier in the day presided over President Trump’s fraud case at the New York State Supreme Court building in lower Manhattan, was among a number of people whisked to safety after someone set papers on fire and then doused them with a fire extinguisher, according to court spokesperson Al Baker.

The unidentified fire bug was taken into custody, with Mr. Baker saying the incident is under investigation.

Firefighters arrived at the building shortly after 4 p.m. in response to an alarm on the fourth floor of the building, which came several hours after the conclusion of testimony in President Trump’s trial.

Two courthouse officials told Business Insider that the apparent arsonist was a non-court employee who started a fire near the empty courtroom where the fraud trial accusing President Trump had concluded earlier in the day. The man also reportedly set off two or more fire extinguishers.