Farmers had gathered for a protest in the city, giving a surreal backdrop to the coming events. It seems impossible, whether seen in person or on TV.

A man in a rental van had doused himself in gasoline, and is threatening to ignite it. The officer standing alone is shouting reassurances to the man inside.

The rear and cargo side doors were also blocked with cardboard, but this was the only one with writing.

A closer view.

The van starts to move erratically, jerking forward and backward and turning. The officer on the left is moving out of the way, while one of the cruisers that is ringing the van moves in behind.

A firefighter connects another hose without regard for the van jumping toward him. A passer-by somehow missed the police cordon, but now hurries past. Twenty minutes have elapsed, and the farmer's protest has turned into an audience.

Two blocks south, an inbound ambulance flies past on the road reserved for it by the police.

The man had set himself ablaze. He was immediately pulled from the van and the flames were extinguished by the ready firefighters. Rushed to the city's best burn and trauma centre, he was in critical condition at the time of writing.

Update: two months after the event, the driver remains in hospital. He has been charged with dangerous driving and arson.

posted by Matthew Robertson  # 5/11/2005