The man set himself on fire as reporters milled around the park, waiting for an update from inside court.

Azzarello remained in critical condition Friday afternoon. A court officer was also rushed to the hospital after he was injured trying to put out the fire.

An investigation into the incident was continuing Friday.

The manifesto released online, which is linked to a QR code on one of the fliers, touched on Ponzi schemes, bank failures, the rise of cryptocurrency, the television show “The Simpsons” and Harvard University, which he called “one of the largest organized crime fronts in history.”

“To my friends and family, witnesses and first responders, I deeply apologize for inflicting this pain upon you,” Azzarello wrote about his alleged self-immolation. “But I assure you it is a drop in the bucket compared to what our government intends to inflict.”

Despite this horrific turn of events, the trial was proceeding Friday, Al Baker, a spokesman for New York State Courts said.

“The entire court is impacted by this. The court officers rushed to help aid the man. Everyone who works in this building every day, their heart goes out to this incident. The judge himself has expressed concern for him, but in terms of the timing, and the process that is unchanged, the court proceeding will continue.”

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