Man on fire in IL Mall had Chemcials strapped on body-Jumping 2 stories at kids waiting for Santa

Yahoo Wire ^ | November 23, 2001 | AP Top Story

[codebreaker]

Jeremy Wolf said the man appeared to have containers of cleaning chemicals strapped to his chest. He has stretched his leg over the railing as if to jump down to the center court, where hundereds of shoppers were waiting in line.

"I could literally see his face on fire," Wolf said."

The man who was not carrying any identification was taken to Rcokford's (IL.)OSF St. Anthony's medical center (from Cherryvale Mall) and was to be transferred to Loyola University Medical Center.

[rwfromkansas]

very odd...though if this is terrorism, this is almost laughable

[Enough is ENOUGH]

...he was heard to say as he whisked out of sight..."Allah Akbar"...

[mlocher]

i guess he was going down in flames

[timm22]

"The man . . . was not carrying any identification"

"But police add that they found a crispy Harry Potter movie stub in his pants pocket..."

[Fighting Irish]

He was a fisherman-moslem with bad hearing. Went to a prayer service then proceeded to martyr himself so as to be surrounded by dozens of Sturgeons.

[codebreaker]

I think this was supposed to put fear into the Christmas shopping season.

These terrorists have never seen my wife with credit card at the Target store a couple of days before December 25.

General Patton himself couldn't stop her from charging the whole store to our account.

[katnip]

Yesterday I recall seeing a news trailer at the bottom of one of the cable news channels advising anyone who notices the unusual purchase of cleaning chemicals to report it to the authorities. The news flas specifically mentioned "cleaning" chemicals

Yes, I saw this too, on Fox news trailer. They were asking retailers to report unusually large purchases of cleaning materials to the police. How odd

[RaceBannon]

"..Now, Look, I'm only gonna demonstrate this once!.."

[nancetc]

A Freeper who believed all his freedoms and liberties were being taken away by the Patriot Act.

[MissAmericanPie]

Buleeeeech I wouldn't doubt it.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Probably just that drummer for "metallica" again... setting himself on fire, in preparation for another "anti-napster" tour de jour.... LAARS, I think is his name.

[codebreaker]

Great story, could be very popular this year.

[codebreaker]

How a Michael Jackson fan, although it doesn't explain the chemical.

[Caipirabob]

Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and maybe a petting zoo, but I think the mall is going a little too far when they begin to employ "Human torches".

;p

[lexington minuteman 1775]

New Christmas carol lyrics:"See the blazing fool before us.Fa la la la la la la la la"

[Professor Jim]

During the Reagan presidency, many loons lost their beds in hospitals and institutions in budget tightening moves. I believe that the definition of "crazy" or "certifiable" was changed, and such people were knocked off the public dole.

Actually, the asylum doors were opened mostly in the 1970s under both REPUBLICAN and DEMOCRATIC adminstrations. It was during the early 1980s that we started noticing more the people on the streets (with the help of the press).

[jwalsh07]

Two men who grabbed the man were treated for burns on their hands, and a woman was treated for smoke inhalation

Two more Americans "rolling".

[csvset]

"I could literally see his face on fire," Wolf said."

Careful, you'll shoot burn your eye out.

[Dr. Zoo]

You could be right about schizophrenia.

Perhaps this man looked at himself like this:

[lonevoice]

"I won't be a bit surprised if we see more strange behavior from those with severe psychological disorders. 911 coupled with the holiday season may really "do a number" on these folks."

Lee, that's a very logical supposition with sound reasoning. Like an earlier poster, I don't find this story amusing. But, the two shoppers who subdued the man and extinguished the flames (suffering their own burns in the process) are brave and impressive individuals. Prayers to them and their families for a quick recovery.