( CNN ) -- A man set himself on fire Tuesday outside the court in Norway 's capital , Oslo , where Anders Behring Breivik is on trial over terrorist attacks last summer that killed 77 people . `` We do n't know much about his motives , but he set himself alight outside the courthouse . Police were quick to put the fire out , and he has now been taken to hospital , '' Unni Groendal , head of media for Oslo police , told CNN . Police said in a statement released later Tuesday that the man was a Norwegian citizen from a foreign background . He has severe injuries , but they are not life-threatening , the statement said . He is expected to have surgery early Wednesday . `` It is still unclear what the motive was for his action . He can currently not be questioned by police , '' the statement reads . A police spokesman earlier dismissed reports that the man had tried to force his way through the cordon outside the district courthouse . Norwegian daily newspaper VG reported that several court employees ran out with water bottles to pour water over the man . Video posted on the VG website shows the man running toward the court building with his hat and jacket on fire . Police officers then pull off his clothing and try to extinguish the flames as he lies on the ground . He was given first aid treatment on site . The incident happened about 1:45 p.m. local time ( 7:45 a.m . ET ) , according to Norwegian TV channel TV2 . Breivik is on trial on charges of voluntary homicide and committing acts of terror in the July 22 attacks . He admits carrying out an attack on a youth camp on Utoya Island and a bombing in Oslo that killed eight people . He boasts of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway . Experts ' assessment of Breivik 's sanity will be a factor in determining what punishment he receives if convicted . Sentencing options could include imprisonment or confining him to a mental facility . Friday 's court session was disrupted when the brother of one of those killed threw a shoe toward Breivik , hitting one of his defense lawyers . This week , the court is hearing testimony from some of those injured during Breivik 's gun rampage on Utoya Island . CNN 's Per Nyberg contributed to this report .
NEW : The man is a Norwegian citizen with a foreign background , police say . Comment: The man suffered severe injuries and will have surgery Wednesday , police say . NEW : Police say the man 's motives for setting himself afire remain unclear . Anders Behring Breivik is on trial on charges of committing acts of terror and voluntary homicide .