A murder investigation has been launched at the Burning Man festival in the US state of Nevada after a man was found lying in a pool of blood on Saturday night, police say.
A festival-goer stopped a police officer at around 21:14 (04:14 GMT) to alert him about the incident and the man was found lying on the ground, obviously deceased at a campsite, Nevada's Pershing County Sheriff's office reported.
The body was discovered as the Man - a towering structure which lends the festival its name - was beginning to burn. The victim's identity is currently unknown.
Burning Man Project stated that it is cooperating with law enforcement and urged those at the festival not to interfere with the investigation.
Part of the site in the Black Rock Desert was cordoned off as on-site police began investigating alongside a forensics team. Sheriff Jerry Allen indicated that several participants in the immediate area were interviewed.
Although this act appears to be a singular crime, Sheriff Allen warned that all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances.
A significant police presence is expected to remain at the scene as investigations continue.
Burning Man draws tens of thousands of attendees to Black Rock City - described by the organizers as a temporary metropolis erected annually in the desert to host the festival, which is set to conclude on Monday.
In the past, fatalities have been reported at the festival, including a death during torrential rain in 2023 and an individual who ran into the Man while it was aflame in 2017.
