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Man stabs himself outside ‘Today’ show, screams ‘IRS is watching me!’

Maggie Lit Contributor
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The “Today” show had an unexpected visitor Thursday morning when a man standing outside the Rockefeller studio began stabbing himself just minutes before the 8 a.m. show.

The man, believed to be in his fifties, began yelling “the IRS is watching me” before throwing some flyers he made in the air because no one was taking them, witnesses said. He then began stabbing himself with what was believed to be a box cutter.

“I saw slice after slice. I saw blood gushing,” witness Kellie Ostransky told the New York Post.

People surrounding the man outside the studio were not sure what he intended to do and feared that he may have intended to harm those around him, but show host Matt Lauer overheard the source say he was only out to harm himself.

The security team and the NYPD quickly tackled the man to the ground before a potential fatality could occur.

Lauer and the rest of the crew remained indoors during the incident. He later tweeted saying “All secure on the plaza after a scary incident. Thanks to our security team and the NYPD.”

There were no other victims.

Tags : today show
Maggie Lit