A man died from severe burns near the United Nations headquarters, police in New York City said on Thursday.

Activists and a media outlet of ⁠exiled Tibetans identified the man as a Tibetan who was appealing for independence.

A New York City Police Department spokesman said police responding to an emergency call made around 6.30pm ET (22.30GMT) on Thursday found the man badly burned.

He was taken to Bellevue ⁠Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said, adding ​an ⁠investigation was ongoing. Police did not name the man.

Voice of Tibet, a media outlet of exiled Tibetans, identified the Tibetan activist as Logba Rangzen. He was ​an ⁠Uber driver and went to the ‌scene with a Tibetan flag, local news site amNewYork reported.

The website quoted fellow Uber driver Lobsang Paljor as saying he knew Rangzen from gatherings in the Tibetan co...