Iceland asylum seeker critical after setting himself on fire

A Macedonian asylum seeker who doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire yesterday afternoon is still in critical condition in hospital.

The incident occurred around 2pm yesterday at the Víðines asylum-seeker accommodation centre near the Greater Reykjavik municipality of Mosfellsbær.

The young man, who is Macedonian and whose asylum case is currently with the Icelandic Foreigner Issue Complaints Committee, poured petrol over himself and self-immolated, sustaining serious burns.

He was rushed to intensive care in Reykjavik and remains in a life-threatening condition today.

The last few months has seen a major increase in the number of asylum applications to Iceland from nationals of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In October, they made up over half of the 200 applications received in October.

In the first ten months of the year, 85 applications for international protection from Macedonians were received, all of which were rejected.