Asylum-seeker sets self on fire in south Germany

A 19-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire in southern Germany on Monday morning, local police said.

Although people at the scene were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, the teen suffered serious burns and was rushed to the hospital.

The incident took place around 7 a.m. (0600 UTC) at a supermarket warehouse in Gaimersheim, a town located between Nuremberg and Munich.

Bavarian police said the man purchased the gasoline at a gas station shortly before setting himself on fire. They added that the asylum seeker was carrying a knife but did not use it.

Authorities said the 19-year-old's motives were not immediately clear.

rs/kms (AP, AFP, dpa)