THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch police said they stopped a man from setting himself on fire in front of the Egyptian embassy in The Hague.
Policesaid the 52-year-old was carrying a banner, had soaked himself in flammable liquid and was trying to spark a lighter when they blinded him with pepper spray and wrestled him to the ground.
In a statement Wednesday, police said the man — of Egyptian ancestry — has been taken into custody and his motives are unknown.
The incident occurred while Egypt's government is facing widespread protests.
Several people in Egypt have set themselves alight recently, replicating the actions of a Tunisian vegetable seller. His self-immolation sparked protests that brought down Tunisia's government.