Three Americans kidnapped
The US Embassy in Iraq says that its nationals are “missing” after local media outlets say that three Americans had been kidnapped in Baghdad. Local security forces conduct house-to-house searches, but have not yet found the missing Americans. Citing privacy concerns, embassy officials decline to identify the Americans involved. State Department:
The safety and security of Americans abroad is our highest priority.
Donates water to Flint residents
Cher donates over 180,000 bottles of water to Flint residents in response to the water crisis. Shipments will start on 18 Jan. The water will be distributed through the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and was provided through Icelandic Glacial, where the singer had contacts who agreed to double Cher’s donation. Cher:
This is a tragedy of staggering proportion and it’s shocking that it’s happening in the middle of our country.
Eight confirmed dead
An Indonesian man wounded in the Jakarta attacks dies, bringing the death toll from the IS-linked attack to eight. A minimum of 20 people have been injured. Authorities have made 12 arrests and shut down 11 websites in the aftermath of the attacks. The attackers have been tentatively identified as belonging to a group linked with the Islamic State, and some of the attackers have been identified as known militants.
Siege ends
The siege on the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ends, leaving 23 dead in addition to four attackers. Three attackers were killed at the hotel and a fourth was killed by security forces in a nearby hotel. The attackers were associated with an Al Qaeda affiliated organization.
Attacks outpost
Al-Shabab attacks an African Union base at El-Ade in southwestern Somalia. A spokesman for Al-Shabab claims that the attack killed more than 63 Kenyan soldiers. A Kenyan military official stated that the rebels attacked Somali soldiers, but that Kenyan soldiers had helped to resist the attack.
Polio vaccination center attacked
14 people die and 20 are wounded as terrorists attack a polio vaccination center in Pakistan. Two separate terrorist groups, both with Taliban links and one swearing allegiance to ISIL, have claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack is not an isolated occurrence. Many of the dead were security officers sent to guard the center. According to a wounded security officer:
Such attacks aiming to stop anti-polio campaigns have happened in the past as well, which have resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. We are trying our best to stop it.
Hackers create false mosque website
Hackers attack a Chicago-area mosque, creating a false website attempting to link the congregation with ISIL, threatening to forcibly convert the suburban community in which the mosque is located to Islam, and insulting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. According to the CAIR, online Islamophobic attacks create a “breeding ground” for offline issues:
Islamophobia is more acute online than anywhere else, and in many ways the typical, big anti-Muslim narratives are born online and they spread from there to political circles and onto the streets.
Activates National Guard
Gov. Snyder activates the Michigan National Guard to assist in the distribution of clean drinking water to Flint residents in response to the city’s drinking water crisis. The Red Cross will now be free to go door-to-door to provide more personal services. Flint’s drinking water became contaminated with lead when the city’s water supply was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River in 2014.
As we work to ensure that all Flint residents have access to clean and safe drinking water, we are providing them with the direct assistance they need in order to stretch our resources further. The Michigan National Guard is trained and ready to assist the citizens of Flint.
Executed
The State of Florida executes Bolin for the murders of Collins and Matthews. The lethal injection is delivered at 10:16 PM, after a four-hour delay due to an attempt to convince the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. Matthews’ mother, Kathleen Reeves, said that it did not matter that Bolins’ death warrant only held the name of one of his victims.
He only dies once.
Amnesty claims Russian airstrikes kill 200 civilians
A report by Amnesty says Russian airstrikes have killed at least 200 civilians. The group accuses Russia of using cluster bombs in civilian areas and says such attacks could constitute war crimes.Russia’s defence ministry dismisses the report as containing “fake information” and “trite cliches”.
Drives car on sidewalk, kills one, injures 37
Holloway kills one person and injures 37 others when she drove through a sidewalk in Las Vegas Strip. Three victims are in critical condition and two other victims in serious but stable condition. Police:
She would not explain why she drove onto the sidewalk but remembered a body bouncing off of her windshield, breaking it.
Smog red alert
Beijing issues smog red alert, ruling that all schools and businesses be shut down.
Sharm el-Sheikh flights cancelled
British Airways and EasyJet cancel all flights between Sharm el-Sheikh and the UK until next month following the bombing of a Russian passenger jet. Easyjet says the move was made to provide some certainty to passengers travelling over the Christmas period. BA says the decision was made following discussions with the UK government.
Russian miltary jet downed by Turkey
A Russian Su-24 jet crashes near the Turkey-Syrian border, after being hit by a Turkish missile. Turkey says its jets shot at the plane after giving 10 warnings that it was violating Turkish airspace. Moscow says the jet never strayed from Syrian airspace. One of the two pilots is killed in the air by fire from the ground. The second pilot’s situation is not known. Two Russian Mi-8 helicopters perform a search-and-rescue operation, but one of them is damaged by small arms fire and makes an emergency landing. A Russian marine is killed during an operation. Turkish President Erdogan:
[The Russian plane was dealt with because it] did not answer our warning.
Russian President Putin says there will be “serious consequences” for Moscow’s relations with Turkey.
[This] represents a stab in the back by the terrorists’ accomplices. I can’t describe what has happened today in any other way. Our plane was downed over Syrian territory by an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 jet. The plane fell on Syrian territory 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the Turkish border. It was flying 1 kilometer away from the Turkish border when it was attacked. In any case, neither our pilots nor our jet posed any threat to Turkey. That is obvious. They were carrying out an operation fighting against ISIL in Northern Latakia.
Executed
ISIS announces the execution of Ofstad and Fan in its magazine Dabiq, saying they had been ‘executed after being abandoned by kafir nations and organisations’. It is believed both men were shot. Norwegian Prime Minister Solberg:
[We cannot confirm the killing] but we have no reasons to doubt it…It is painful for the family and the whole country. [ISIS is} a barbaric group. We do not pay ransom…even if it hurts, we should never let the terrorists win.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Brede says the government is releasing the information in accordance with the family’s wishes. Chinese officials did not comment on Fan’s kidnapping.
Prosecutor: 129 dead, 352 injured
The Paris Prosecutor says that 129 people were killed and 352 injured in the attacks. 99 people are in critical condition. At least one American was killed in the attacks. He also says three teams of attackers coordinated the attacks, and that the Bataclan group mentioned Syria and Iraq during the attacks. One suspect is identified as a 30-year-old French citizen, and one suicide attacker, identified by a Syrian passport found near his body at the national stadium, was not known to French intelligence services. All the suicide attackers wore identical explosive vests.
Police: 153 dead
Police say that 153 people have died in the attacks. 112 killed at Bataclan venue; 14 at Petit Cambodge restaurant; 19 outside La Belle Epuipe bar; 4 on Ave de le République 4 outside stadium.
Two gunmen killed at the Bataclan
Officials say two gunmen are killed after the police operation at the Bataclan concert hall ends. Police say 100 people are dead inside. One official described “carnage” inside the building, saying the attackers had tossed explosives at the hostages.
Stade de France evacuated
Multiple explosions are heard near the Stade de France, where President Hollande is watching international friendly football match between France and Germany. Hollande is evacuated from the building. Following the game, fans are moved onto the pitch to await evacuation.
Paris attacks: Video appears to show moment explosions heard at Stade de France https://t.co/ugP2zWi9z5 https://t.co/olASm5MH1Q
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 13, 2015
Stade de France double suicide bombing
Attackers commit a double suicide bombing outside of France’s national stadium. The first attacker is discovered wearing an explosives vest when he is being frisked at the entrance to the stadium about 15 minutes into the game. While attempting to back away from security, the attacker detonated the vest, which is loaded with explosives and bolts. Around three minutes later, a second person also blows himself up outside the stadium. A third suicide attacker detonates explosives at a nearby McDonald’s. One civilian dies in the attacks.