In brief
A murder investigation has commenced at the Burning Man festival in Nevada after a man was found dead at a campsite as the festival's iconic Man structure was about to be set alight. The sheriff’s office is urging festival-goers to remain vigilant while they investigate.
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 said.
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 not known.
Burning Man Project said it was co-operating 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 said several participants in the immediate area were interviewed.
Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances, Sheriff Allen warned.
A significant police presence was to remain at the scene as the investigation continued.
Burning Man draws tens of thousands of attendees to Black Rock City - which the organisers describe as a temporary metropolis put up in the desert annually to host the festival, which this year ends on Monday.
Fatalities have been reported at the festival in the past, including a death during torrential rain in 2023 and a man who ran into the Man while it was on fire in 2017.
