A 52-year-old Tibetan man died Thursday after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City, according to reports.

Palden Lobsang shared a video of the incident, which captured him walking to the intersection of 42nd Street and First Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Dressed in monastic garb and carrying a Tibetan flag, he then set himself ablaze. During the act, Lobsang distributed flyers that read "China out of Tibet" and "Free Tibet" as vehicles passed by.

After approximately one minute, Lobsang collapsed to the ground while still on fire. Two security officers were observed rushing to the intersection to extinguish the flames. A bystander appeared to call 911.

Officers from the 17th Precinct arrived about five minutes after the video began, followed by a fire truck approximately two minutes later. First responders attempted life-saving measures before transporting Lobsang to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:04 p.m. The device used for filming was taken into custody by officers.

The Tibetan flag Lobsang had placed in the ground remained at the scene for about an hour as investigations continued.

Lobsang, an Uber driver, had been living in the United States for approximately 20 years. Earlier in the day, he had shared images of himself outside the Cipriani event venue with New York City tourism bags, and had also posted online the flyers he later distributed.

A fellow Uber driver, who knew Lobsang from gatherings within New York City's Tibetan community, stated that his friend was incensed by the Chinese government's restrictions on Tibetans, including mandatory Mandarin language study and limitations on other forms of learning. "That's the main thing he was worried about," the friend told AMNY. "I am emotionally so sad. He should not have done that."

The "Free Tibet" movement advocates for Tibet's sovereignty from China. Historically, Tibet operated with de facto autonomy until China's Communist Party gained control in 1951 under the Seventeen Point Agreement, intended as a peaceful transition. The movement's current objective is to restore sovereignty to the Tibet Autonomous Region and reinstate the Dalai Lama's authority.

The movement's official website notes that protesters have often chanted slogans during self-immolation incidents, calling for the Dalai Lama's long life and return to Tibet, the release of the Panchen Lama, and for human rights and freedom in Tibet. The site also states that severe punishments are meted out to those accused of aiding or sharing information about protesters abroad.

The Tibetan Freedom Concerts in the 1990s, featuring prominent bands, helped bring international visibility to the movement.