THE MAN WHO set himself on fire outside the court where Donald Trump is standing trial has died, according to US media reports.

The incident occurred moments after the full panel of 12 jurors and six alternates was selected for the trial of the former US president in a hush money cover-up case.

Television reporters who were at the scene to cover the trial have described seeing a man be engulfed in flames.

The man had been taken away on a stretcher but later succumbed to this injuries, according to a police statement reported by NBC. 

The judge confirmed the completion of the selection after four days of jury screening in which prospective jurors were grilled about their politics and ability to give Trump a fair trial.

A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed that a “male did light himself on fire outside of the Supreme Courthouse”, adding that police were still gathering details from the scene.

A witness who gave his name as Dave, 73, told AFP he saw a man throwing pamphlets before dousing himself with an unspecified liquid and lighting himself on fire.

The incident happened in a park opposite the 100 Centre Street courthouse, which has been used by authorities to corral protesters, both pro-Trump and anti-Trump.

Trump’s criminal trial, the first of a former president, is being conducted amid tight security in a 15th floor courtroom swarming with Secret Service officers as well as court police.

New York’s police department had promised a major deployment to ensure the trial passes off safely, with the force’s head of intelligence John Hart calling it a “major challenge.”