During today’s live broadcast of NBC’s Today Show in Rockefeller Plaza, a man pulled a knife and tried to harm himself. Anchor Matt Lauer was tasked with telling viewers why they had to move the show back inside the studio and assure viewers that no one was harmed.
“He was controlled by our security team out there. However, he did harm himself in some way, so he’s now being attended to by medical personnel,” Lauer told viewers at the start of the 8 p.m. hour. He said that the man said that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone but himself.
While Lauer didn’t say what the motive was, witnesses told The New York Daily News that the man was ranting in broken English about the IRS being a corrupt organization that “ruined his life.”
The show used its Twitter account, noting that police are investigating the incident. NBC’s security team also helped apprehend the man.
.@mlauer just reported that a man on the plaza tried to harm himself with a knife. No one else was injured. Police are handling.
— TODAY(@todayshow) June 6, 2013
All secure on the plaza after a scary incident. Thanks to our security team and the NYPD.
— Matt Lauer (@MLauer) June 6, 2013
RT @mlauer: Sorry, a man attempted to harm himself with a knife. He is under police control. In custody.
— TODAY(@todayshow) June 6, 2013
Hypervocal posted photos of the incident, including a photo by Twitter user @SirAnduck, as seen above.
image: @SirAnduck on Twitter
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