Trump fraud-trial judge evacuated from Manhattan courthouse soon after testimony ends

• The Trump fraud trial is nearing its end in a lower Manhattan courthouse.
• More than 10 weeks of testimony wrapped on Wednesday with a verdict expected in a month.

Four hours after testimony wrapped in the civil fraud trial against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization Wednesday, the lower Manhattan courthouse was evacuated after someone set papers on fire and then used multiple fire extinguishers on the same floor as the judge's robing room.

The judge in the case, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, was in his robing room when he heard shouting on the floor at about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. He was safely escorted out of the courthouse.

The incident resulted in one arrest and minor injuries to responding court officers; by Thursday, court officials and law enforcement have found no link between the attempted arson and the Trump trial.

Two courthouse officials told Business Insider on Wednesday that the evacuation was prompted by a man creating a small fire by igniting paperwork and then setting off two or more fire extinguishers.

The man, who was not a courthouse employee, was immediately taken into custody by court officers, they said.

Fire and police personnel quickly responded to the incident. There were no serious injuries. According to Alfred Baker, a state court system spokesperson, two court officers, including a sergeant, were taken to a hospital for observation, and 14 other court officers were treated at the scene.

At about 5 p.m., the judge and other employees on the fourth floor were allowed to go upstairs to collect their belongings before leaving for the day.

One officer told the judge and others returning to the fourth floor, "If you have a mask, wear your mask," because the floor was contaminated by chemicals from the fire extinguishers.

The incident was a strange coda to the conclusion of testimony; what prompted the man to set the fire was not immediately clear.

The suspect, Paris Nesbitt, 38, was charged with second-degree attempted arson and reckless endangerment.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $150,000 bond after prosecutors argued that the fires from multiple pieces of paper could have endangered many lives.

It was unclear what kind or how much paperwork was burned, though officials said it contained statements critical of the justice system.

"I started the fire, then I put it out," prosecutors said he told court officers.

The Associated Press reported that Nesbitt burned handwritten criticisms of the criminal justice system.

This story was updated on Sunday to include details about the arrest, criminal charges, bail, and injuries resulting from the incident.