After setting themselves on fire in front of the Israeli consulate in Atlanta on Friday and suffering severe injuries, a protester is in critical condition, Atlanta Police said.

A building security guard also suffered minor burns in the process of attempting to stop the protester from self-immolating.

Police Chief Darin Schierbaum described the incident as a likely “extreme act of political protest.”

“We are saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building,” Israeli Consul-General Anat Sultan-Dadon said in a statement. “It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way. The sanctity of life is our highest value.”

The protester’s exact motives and message were not immediately clear. Atlanta Police said the department is continuing an investigation at the scene, alongside the FBI.