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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/28/man-sets-himself-on-fire-near-sydneys-central-station
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man sets himself on fire in Sydney to protest the immigration department | Man sets himself on fire in Sydney to protest the immigration department |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who set himself on fire near Sydney’s Central station was protesting the Department of Immigration, according to New South Wales police. | A man who set himself on fire near Sydney’s Central station was protesting the Department of Immigration, according to New South Wales police. |
| The man, aged around 30, doused himself in petrol and set himself alight on Lee Street near the department at 1.30pm on Friday. | The man, aged around 30, doused himself in petrol and set himself alight on Lee Street near the department at 1.30pm on Friday. |
| Superintendent David Donohue could not confirm if the man was an asylum seeker or had been through the immigration system. | Superintendent David Donohue could not confirm if the man was an asylum seeker or had been through the immigration system. |
| “I’m not at liberty to discuss what his issues were but he was protesting the Department of Immigration,” he said at a press conference. | |
| Donohue said the man was “deeply disturbed and upset” and “would have killed himself” if police had not doused him with a fire extinguisher. He is being treated for superficial burns to his thighs, and his mental health is being assessed in hospital. | |
| Police negotiated with the man for eight to 10 minutes before he set himself alight, Donohue said. | |
| “On police arrival, they saw the male covering himself in petrol. Police responded quickly, entered into negotiations with the gentleman and shortly thereafter he set himself on fire.” | |
| “I’m not aware of the actual dialogue between the officers,” he said. | |
| NSW police could not confirm whether the man had been inside the Department of Immigration building before he set himself alight. | |
| Donohue said members of the NSW fire service were present and the response of law enforcement saved the man from more serious harm. | |
| “The quick actions of police at the time were able to douse him with a fire extinguisher and put him out very quickly and as a result he suffered minor injuries.” | |
| The Department of Immigration has been contacted for comment. NSW police said they had not yet spoken to the department as they were focusing on the man’s health. | |
| In May last year, Somali refugee Hodan Yasin set herself alight while in immigration detention in Nauru, and Iranian refugee Omid Masoumali died in April last year after a similar self-immolation protest during a UN visit to the island. | |
| Sources on the island told Guardian Australia in May that self-harm and suicide attempts happened daily on Nauru. | |
| • Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 | • Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 |