Trump trial resumes after man sets himself on fire outside court

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Court is now over for the day.

Donald Trump got up and left the courtroom about 16:30 local time (21:30 BST). On his way out of the courthouse, he once again told reporters that he faces a "witch hunt" that is directed by his political opponents.

He has given no evidence for his claim that he faces political persecution.

The next time Trump will be in this courtroom is on Monday, when the court will hold opening arguments in the historic criminal trial of the former president.

Prosecutors said that we may also see the first witness take the stand on Monday, but we will see.

It will be a shorter day, as court will break about 14:00 local time on Monday due to the religious holiday of Passover.

Susan Necheles, a Trump lawyer, once again asks the judge to compel the prosecutor's office to give them the name of the first witness they will call on Monday. She says the defence needs to prepare.

Prosecutors have resisted providing the name, citing the former president's habit of using social media to attack people involved in the case.

But Necheles offers to ensure the witness name is known only to the lawyers, not to Trump.

Justice Merchan says he would not force the prosecutor's office to turn the name over.

Joshua Steinglass, the trial prosecutor, says they will consider giving Trump’s name to his lawyers - on Sunday.

But, he says, if the name leaked or Trump posted about it, they would not extend the courtesy again.

Justice Merchan has heard from both sides, and he said he will rule on the Sandoval matters later.

He said he would have a decision for the prosecutors and the defence by Monday, which is when opening arguments could begin.

With some time left in today's session, Justice Merchan turns to outstanding motions and other matters.

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We've heard more about the fire incident that happened across the street from the courthouse where Donald Trump is standing trial.

Law enforcement officials have emphasised that it occurred in Collect Pond Park, a small green space with a reflecting pool that is open to the public.

Because the park remained open, they said that the fire incident was not considered a security breach of the perimeter that they established around the courthouse.

Nevertheless, officials said they remain very concerned, will review security protocols and consider adding additional resources. They said that they may even close the park during the trial if necessary.

Everyone involved in Trump's case has been notified, authorities said.

The trial is back on track and continuing on schedule without interruption.

We are now in the heart of what is known as a Sandoval hearing, a proceeding to determine whether prosecutors can ask the defendant - Trump - about past criminal acts or misconduct during this trial.

In this case, the prosecution could try to do this to target Trump’s credibility in front of the jury. It will also tell the defence about the frame of prosecutors' case, and it could help the former president decide whether he will testify.

This is the moment when all the threads of Trump’s multiple New York legal dramas have come together.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office wants to bring in elements from Trump’s civil fraud trial, and from both the sexual assault and defamation trials brought by the writer E Jean Caroll.

Those trials took place at the courthouses next door to the one Trump sits in now. Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, is fighting each of the items on the prosecutors’ list.

Here’s what we know after New York law enforcement's update on the man who set himself on fire across from the Manhattan courthouse where Trump is on trial.

Authorities have identified the man as Maxwell Azzarello - a resident of St Augustine, Florida, who was born in 1987.

It appears he arrived in New York sometime after the 13th and his family was unaware that he was here. Officials do not believe that he was targeting any person or group.

For now, they believe Azzarello is a conspiracy theorist driven to this act by his views. His social media posts and the pamphlets he tossed out just ahead of the fire are the basis for this conclusion, but they said that the investigation is just beginning.

Azzarello is at hospital - alive and intubated - but in critical condition.

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Trump re-entered the courtroom moments ago.

The former president did not respond when reporters asked him about the man who set himself on fire outside the courthouse.

Court is now back in session.

We were unsure how the trial might proceed after the fire incident happened outside just an hour ago, but we are starting again now.

We're still expected to have a Sandoval hearing, which could give us some insight into what prosecutors might ask Trump if he takes the witness stand.

The update from authorities has just ended, after they informed reporters that they brought a bomb squad to search the area. They said that "no devices" were found.

Stay with us as we continue to follow developments.

Police say the man was not targeting any people or any particular groups when he lit himself on fire.

Authorities are currently combing through the man's social media. They say it appears he did post something online about his plans.

At this time, they believe he was motivated by conspiracies.

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Officers say they prepared extensively for the Trump trial and had "large security plans".

They met with firefighters as a part of those plans, and the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services were in the area.

Officers responded to the fire within two minutes of it being reported. They said the only delay is because they did not anticipate any "reason for anybody to have a fire extinguisher on standby. Nobody knew that this guy was about to set himself on fire".

Officials said earlier in the press conference that they would review their security plan, but they remained confident about their approach and would institute changes if necessary.

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Authorities identify the man who set himself on fire as Maxwell Azzarello, a male from St Augustine, Florida. Azzarello was born in 1987, police say. That would make him about 37-years-old.

Azzarello arrived in New York earlier this week, police say, adding that his family was unaware he had traveled to New York.

Police say the man threw pamphlets in the air before he set himself on fire.

Asked what was on the pamphlets, the officers say they appeared to be "conspiracy based". They made claims like New York higher education institutions being "part of the mob".

Police say the man did not breach any security prior to setting himself on fire.

The park where the incident took place was open to the public.

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Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey is now up. He says at around 13:30 local time (18:30 BMT) this afternoon, there was a male that walked into the centre of the park across the street from the courthouse where Donald Trump's trial is underway.

He then opens up a bookbag and takes out colourful pamphlets that he throws throughout the park.

The man then took out a cannister filled with what is believed to be an flame accelerant, and then lights himself on fire.

Once fully engulfed, the man took a few steps and fell to the ground.

Officials are telling reporters that people used coats and fire extinguishers to try and put out the fire that engulfed the man.

Then, the New York Fire Department arrived.

He was taken to hospital and is in critical condition, police say.

The police have just started to give an update on the situation that unfolded outside the courthouse earlier.

You can watch it live by pressing the play button at the top of this page.

And we will also be bringing you text updates.

As we're are waiting for this press conference to start, we're also waiting to hear how court will proceed today.

Court officials have not officially told the reporters covering the trial whether they will be allowed back into the courtroom for the Sandoval hearing that Judge Merchan is expected to hold today.

Most officials have been busy dealing with the fire incident outside the courthouse.

As a reminder, a Sandoval hearing is designed to inform defendants the scope of questions they may face from prosecutors, which allows them to decide whether to take the witness stand in their defense.

We are about to hear from the New York Police Department with more details on the incident.

They are scheduled to give an update at 14.45 local time (19:45 BST).

You can click the play above to watch the news conference live.