Jobseeker sets fire to himself

Suicide outside job centre in Nantes after man loses entitlement to benefits

AN UNEMPLOYED man whose benefits had been cut off has died after setting fire to himself outside a job centre in Nantes.

The man had alerted local media to his plans, saying he intended to kill himself outside the Nantes-Est branch of Pôle Emploi.

He was angry that his entitlement to unemployment allowance had not been renewed, while he claims he had fulfilled all the necessary criteria to continue being paid.

A similar suicide happened near Paris last August, when a 51-year-old unemployed man died from his injuries when he set fire to himself.