Man charged after setting himself ablaze in Google’s NYC office building

A 63-year-old man set himself on fire Friday afternoon in the lobby of a lower Manhattan building that houses Google’s New York offices — in an incident police say appears to have no clear motive. John Butch, of Brooklyn, walked into the lobby of 315 Hudson Street at around 3 p.m. and set himself ablaze, according to police. He was taken to a nearby hospital with a burn unit in stable condition. No one else at the scene was injured. Butch was charged with criminal mischief, arson and reckless endangerment. Police have not disclosed a motive, and it remains unclear whether Butch intended to target Google specifically. In a statement, Google suggested it did not believe it was the intended target. “While the individual appeared to be seeking access to another tenant’s space in the building, we remain in close contact with local authorities,” the statement said. “We are grateful to first responders.” The recently renovated Hudson Square building also houses a Sweetgreen and a Joe & The Juice on its ground floor.