Man attempts self-immolation at midnight mass

The Macau cathedral

A 48-year-old Macau resident reportedly tried to set himself on fire during the midnight mass service at the local cathedral of Macau on Christmas Eve. His action was allegedly undertaken in protest of the government’s policies.
According to TDM, the Public Security Police reported that the resident attempted to douse himself in gasoline but was stopped following an intervention by the cathedral’s staff and fellow worshippers. The Bishop for Macau, José Lai, was conducting the mass when the incident occurred.
The man was later detained by police and sent to the psychiatric clinic in Taipa for examination.
The Judiciary Police said that the man had attempted the self-immolation due to his discontent with the government’s policies.
Self-immolation, which conventionally refers to the practice of setting oneself alight in an attempted suicide, has been a common form of protest in Asia since the mid-20th century, especially in Tibet, Vietnam, and India.
The attempted suicide was linked to another incident which occurred earlier that night when an individual was believed to have intentionally set a gasoline container on fire outside a natural gas company in the Inner Harbor district.
The police added that they believe that the man now detained was responsible for causing the previous incident. Staff reporter