A Tibetan man died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City in what authorities and activists described as a political protest.

According to police, emergency responders were called to the scene outside the UN headquarters in Manhattan at around 6:30 p.m., where they found the man suffering from severe burns. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital but later died from his injuries.

Witnesses and activists identified the man as Lobga Rangzen, who was reportedly carrying a Tibetan flag and displaying protest leaflets calling for an end to Chinese rule in Tibet before setting himself on fire. The incident was captured on a livestream.

Friends described Rangzen as a long-time supporter of the Free Tibet movement and said he had lived in the United States for approximately two decades. Activists said the protest was intended to draw international attention to the situation in Tibet and opposition to China's policies in the region.

The New York Police Department is continuing its investigation. United Nations officials confirmed the incident occurred outside the headquarters after the day's meetings had concluded and that UN operations were not disrupted.