Published: 2013 February 14 13:42:36 (2927 Views)

An 18-year-old man, from the Ivory Coast, has shocked travellers and workers at Fiumicino airport, 10 miles west of the Italian after he doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire.

Police said he arrived at the departures area of the airport's terminal three with a deportation order and had been due to leave Italy.

But as he spoke to police he suddenly pulled out a plastic bottle of petrol, tipped it over himself and ran off through the terminal.

Officers gave chase, but he then used a lighter to ignite the fuel in front of stunned passengers.

One policeman grabbed a fire extinguisher to douse the flames and was slightly injured.

Paramedics wrapped the man in specialist blankets before taking him away in an ambulance.

A spokesman at the Sant Eugenio hospital where he was being treated said he was in a "serious condition with extensive burns".

The officer who tackled him was said to have a slight burn to his right arm but was otherwise uninjured.

Officials said the airport remained open and only a small section of the terminal was closed before it reopened after an hour with no significant delays for passengers.

A Rome police spokesman said: "We are investigating the circumstances of the incident which involved an 18-year-old man from the Ivory Coast.

"He was due to leave the country after being served an expulsion order but set himself alight. One of our officers was slightly hurt as he tackled him.

"Scientific teams are at the airport examining the scene and officers will also speak to the man when possible."

- Sky News

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