A man is in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, authorities confirmed. The Metropolitan police department responded to the incident on International Drive around 1pm to assist the Secret Service, who had already extinguished the flames. The man, with serious burn injuries, was rushed to the hospital and is currently under critical condition.

In a statement, the Israeli embassy confirmed the incident, stating that the man had set himself on fire and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. They also reassured that no embassy staff were injured and are safe. Police explosives experts were called to the scene to investigate a suspicious vehicle that may be connected to the individual, but it was later cleared with no hazardous materials found.

This incident comes after a similar one in December, where a protester self-immolated at the Israeli consulate in Atlanta as part of a protest against Israel's military actions in Gaza. It is not yet clear if the man in Washington DC was also protesting the Israeli government's actions. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Israeli Embassy for further comment.

This breaking news story is still developing, and more details will be provided as they become available. Stay tuned for updates.