An Ivorian man about to be deported from Italy has set himself ablaze at the Fiumicino airport in the Italian capital, Rome, according to local reporters in Italy.

A customs official managed to extinguish the flames, but the young man is believed to be badly burnt which can leave serious scare on him forever.

The airport officials said the man had not passed through security check point and was in the main international departure terminal at the time of the incident.

Illegal immigrants especially from Sub-Saharan Africa enter Italy and Europe via the Mediterranean Sea in boats and it is expected the man is not an exception as he might have entered Italy by route.

The man was reportedly hid the fuel in his suitcase which many believed he had a premeditation mind to burn himself in the eventuality of being busted.

The La Repubblica newspaper reported that a police officer noticed the man had covered himself with the liquid and had a light in his hand. He ran towards the man but was unable to stop him.

A nearby customs official, Tiziana Garner, told the Corriere della Serra newspaper that she spotted that the officer’s arm was on fire and helped him remove his top.

She then realised the Ivorian man, believed to be aged 19, was on fire and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, the paper reports.

The man and the officer have been taken to hospital and the area of the airport where the fire happened has re-opened again after it was temporary closed down.

Video Ivorian fired himself Rome Airport

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Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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