An active-duty US Air Force personnel who reportedly immolated himself outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC succumbed to his injuries and died Monday night, Feb. 26.
The airman who set himself on fire has since been identified as 25-year-old Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell of San Antonio, Texas, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
A person familiar with the incident told the Associated Press that Bushnell walked up to the embassy shortly before 13:00 on Sunday, Eastern time (18:00 UTC, Feb. 25) and began livestreaming on the video streaming platform Twitch. During the stream, he declared - while wearing his uniform - that he would "no longer be complicit in genocide." After this, he doused himself in accelerant and ignited the flames.
Twitch later removed the video from the platform, but not before law enforcement officials were able to obtain and review a copy.
A law enforcement official also told reporters that investigators believed that Bushnell had been staying at a Travelodge in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was searched Monday by federal agents.
Both individuals told AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation publicly.
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USAF: Bushnell Worked on Cyber Defense Ops
According to the US Air Force, Bushnell was a cyber defense operations specialist with the 531st Intelligence Support Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio. He has served on active duty since May 2020.
"When a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the Air Force feels it," Air Force Col. Celina Noyes, commander of the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Senior Airman Bushnell."
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters held a vigil outside the Israeli embassy building on Monday night.
The incident happened as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seeking cabinet approval for a military operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah while a truce deal was being negotiated, which has since been received by Hamas for review.
However, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has drawn criticisms, including genocide claims against the Palestinians. Israeli officials have adamantly denied the genocide allegations, claiming that it has carried out operations in accordance with international law in the Israel-Hamas War.
Bushnell was the second person to self-immolate after another person did so outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta last December. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene, and the act was considered an "extreme political protest."
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