RAEFORD, N.C. (BN24) — A North Carolina deputy fatally shot a 13-year-old boy Thursday after the teenager, who was wanted in the killing of his grandmother, charged toward the officer holding a piece of lumber, authorities said.
The shooting took place in the Cameron area of Lee County, roughly 90 miles southwest of Raleigh. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies had been alerted about the homicide of 68-year-old Connie Linen, whose body was discovered inside her home in Raeford earlier that day. Authorities have not disclosed details about how Linen was killed, but they confirmed that she was a victim of homicide. Deputies initially responded to the home for a well-being check before discovering her body.
Detectives quickly identified the victim’s grandson as a suspect, and authorities issued a murder charge against him for first-degree murder. The boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, was later located behind an abandoned mobile home in the Cameron area.
When deputies approached the suspect, he fled on foot. During the pursuit, the teenager grabbed a two-by-four piece of lumber from a nearby yard and charged toward a sheriff’s deputy. The deputy, fearing for his safety, fired his weapon, striking the teen. The boy was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office described the 13-year-old as approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds. Sheriff Brian Estes of Lee County confirmed the incident and stated that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) would be conducting a review of the deputy’s actions, which is standard procedure for law enforcement-involved shootings.
“This has been a tragic and emotional situation for everyone involved,” said Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil in a statement Friday. “We ask that our community come together with compassion and understanding as we all process this difficult event.”
As of now, the SBI has not released additional details regarding the investigation, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to further inquiries. The incident is drawing attention to the complexities and emotional toll of law enforcement interactions, particularly when involving juveniles.
The fatal shooting has raised concerns about the circumstances leading to the confrontation. The investigation into both the boy’s death and the ongoing homicide case continues, as authorities look for more information regarding the events leading up to the tragic outcome.
The Gunners have been in fine form, leading the league by four points, blending youthful energy with the experience of seasoned campaigners. Manager Mikel Arteta will be looking to maintain consistency across both attack and defense. Arsenal have lost only once in the league and conceded just three goals in nine matches.
North London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea are set to meet in a highly anticipated derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a match that could have major implications for the top half of the table. Spurs, buoyed by recent performances, will aim to assert dominance at home, while Chelsea seeks to regain form following a mixed start to the season.
Liverpool face an uphill battle as they travel to in-form Aston Villa, hoping to arrest a remarkable slump that has seen the Premier League champions lose four consecutive league games. Their woes were compounded by a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, a match in which manager Arne Slot made 10 changes to protect key players ahead of a demanding fixture schedule, including clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City.
“I don’t think it is possible if you lose six out of seven that there is even more pressure,” Slot said. “If you are on a run of results like this, if you play for Liverpool, if you manage Liverpool, you know the pressure is there.”
Five games into the Premier League campaign, Liverpool led Villa by 12 points, but four matches later, the sides met separated only by goal difference. Aston Villa have recovered from a difficult start with four straight wins, including notable victories against Tottenham and Manchester City, to surge back into contention for the Champions League spots.
Liverpool’s title defence has struggled in contrast. The Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 league games, with Slot still searching for the right balance following a significant squad overhaul in the summer transfer window. Despite a Premier League-record spending spree of nearly £450 million, Liverpool lost more key players than they acquired, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz among those missed. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said, “To see the champions lose four games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we’re in a crisis time for Liverpool right now.”
The weekend fixtures promise a thrilling Premier League spectacle:
Saturday: Brighton vs. Leeds, Burnley vs. Arsenal, Crystal Palace vs. Brentford, Fulham vs. Wolves, Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United, Tottenham vs. Chelsea, Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Sunday: West Ham vs. Newcastle, Manchester City vs. Bournemouth
Monday: Sunderland vs. Everton
Fans can expect a weekend of intense competition as teams jostle for position in one of the most tightly contested EPL campaigns in recent memory.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BN24)— As families across Rio de Janeiro’s favelas begin to bury their dead, the city is left grappling with the aftermath of one of the deadliest gang raids in recent history. At least 132 people were killed, including four police officers, during Tuesday’s operation in Vila Cruzeiro, a neighborhood part of the sprawling Penha complex of communities. The raid, conducted by approximately 2,500 police officers and soldiers, targeted the notorious Red Command gang, but its brutal execution has left the local population in shock and mourning.
Grief-stricken residents of Vila Cruzeiro have expressed their anger and disbelief as they witness the aftermath of what they describe as a “warzone” encounter. “This wasn’t an operation; these were assassinations. They didn’t come to arrest; they came to kill,” said Monique Santiliano, a local nail salon owner whose voice trembled as she spoke. Her sentiment reflects the broader frustration of a community that believes the raid crossed the line from law enforcement action to state-sanctioned violence.
State officials, including Rio’s conservative governor, Claudio Castro, defended the operation, framing it as a necessary measure in the fight against “narco-terrorism.” Castro described the raid as a success in the battle against the powerful Red Command gang. Yet, human rights advocates, residents, and politicians have raised serious concerns, with some accusing the police of excessive force, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
Human Rights Minister Macaé Evaristo voiced her strong opposition to the narrative pushed by the state government. Speaking at a press conference in Penha, Evaristo emphasized that targeting gang leaders and financial backers is the key to dismantling organized crime. “There’s no point in coming into our communities and exposing children, the elderly, and people with disabilities to such terror,” she stated.
The raid, which also led to widespread gunfire and chaos across Rio, sparked a fierce debate about law enforcement tactics and the human cost of anti-gang operations. The state government claims that the 132 fatalities were the result of criminals resisting arrest, but this has been met with skepticism. Human rights organizations, as well as Brazil’s Supreme Court and lawmakers, have called for a full investigation into the operation.
On Thursday, as some of the dead were laid to rest, the community was left grappling with the devastating loss of loved ones. Family members described their pain at the brutality of the killings, with reports of bodies found decapitated, mutilated, or bound with signs of torture. Ana Tobossi, a local activist, decried the normalization of such violence. “If the country continues to applaud, it will happen elsewhere,” she warned.
At the same time, some residents voiced their concerns about the long-term impact on the community. “People from outside are going to see this going on in favelas and aren’t going to want to come anymore. It makes us look bad,” said Paulo Roberto, a 16-year-old street vendor who was left shaken by the events.
The operation’s goal was to weaken the Red Command gang’s influence in Rio’s favelas. Still, it has instead highlighted the growing tensions between law enforcement and the residents of these communities. While many question whether the raid will achieve lasting results, others are left wondering whether such actions are truly the solution to Brazil’s worsening gang violence.
As the bodies are buried and the pain lingers, the story of the deadly raid is far from over. Brazil’s Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing with the state governor and key law enforcement officials to address the growing calls for accountability and transparency. Meanwhile, the residents of Rio’s favelas, still reeling from the violence, continue to demand justice for those lost in this tragic chapter of the city’s ongoing gang war.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (BN24) — About 700 people have reportedly died following days of violent protests over Tanzania’s presidential election, the opposition Chadema party has claimed. The protests, which erupted on Wednesday, were sparked by widespread accusations that the ruling party had stifled opposition, particularly through the exclusion of key candidates from the presidential ballot.
John Kitoka, a spokesperson for Chadema, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the situation was dire, particularly in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, where the death toll was believed to be around 350 and 200, respectively. He warned that the true toll could be even higher due to killings that may have occurred during a government-imposed nighttime curfew.
“We believe the number could be closer to 700, possibly even 800 when including deaths across other regions,” Kitoka said, adding that party members had been collecting reports directly from hospitals and health clinics, counting bodies as they went. Amnesty International, however, reported a much lower toll of at least 100 deaths.
The violence followed intense protests on election day, where demonstrators voiced their anger over the exclusion of opposition leaders such as Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo from the race. Lissu, a former presidential candidate, was arrested earlier this year on charges of treason and cybercrimes, while Mpina, a key opposition figure, was also barred from contesting.
In response to the unrest, Tanzanian security forces launched a harsh crackdown on demonstrators. The country’s army chief, Gen. Jacob John Mkunda, condemned the protests, labeling demonstrators as “criminals” and vowing to restore order. Reports from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicate that security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters, with at least 10 confirmed deaths resulting from gunfire.
The protests, which were initially concentrated in Dar es Salaam, have since spread to other parts of the country, including Shinyanga in the northwest and Morogoro in the east. Internet access has been cut off nationwide, with global watchdog NetBlocks confirming the countrywide disruption.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the OHCHR, have condemned the use of force by the Tanzanian government. The OHCHR has called for security forces to refrain from using excessive force and urged protesters to remain peaceful. Human rights lawyer Tito Magoti also criticized the government’s handling of the protests, labeling the violence as “unjustified” and urging President Samia Suluhu Hassan to stop deploying police against her own people.
Suluhu, who assumed office following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, in March 2021, was widely expected to consolidate power during this election cycle. However, the exclusion of prominent opposition figures has led to claims that the election was neither free nor fair.
Kitoka of Chadema reiterated his party’s call for a transitional government to oversee the election process, stressing the need for electoral justice. “We cannot vote for one candidate. The people have spoken,” he said, demanding that the government respect the will of the Tanzanian people and cease the violent repression of peaceful protests.
As the protests continue, Tanzania’s political future remains uncertain, with widespread fears that the government’s heavy-handed response will only fuel more unrest in the coming days.
OBE-JEDO, Ondo State (BN24)— The Nigerian Navy has dismantled an illegal crude oil refinery in the Obe-Jedo and Obe-Adun communities of Ilaje Local Council, Ondo state, Nigeria, arresting seven people and seizing large quantities of stolen diesel and makeshift weapons, authorities said Friday.
Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, commander of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, said the operation was based on credible intelligence about economic sabotage and maritime crime. “Our team acted on verified information that crude oil theft and illegal refining activities were ongoing in these riverine communities,” Usman said.
During the raid, naval operatives recovered approximately 3,000 liters of refined diesel stored in jerrycans, along with several cooking ovens used to refine stolen crude oil. Officers also recovered machetes and locally made firearms believed to have been used to resist arrest.
Usman said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects initially arrested were secondary participants who have since been released. The main operators of the refinery remain at large and have been declared wanted.
The operation faced significant resistance. A group of hired youths and some women reportedly attempted to shield the illegal activities, forcing the Navy to withdraw temporarily to avoid escalation. “The team later returned in the early hours of the following day and discovered that stolen crude oil and refined products had been relocated to a nearby bakery and other makeshift storage facilities,” Usman said. “The illegal refinery was subsequently deactivated following directives from Defence Headquarters.”
Authorities said the illegal refining operations not only fuel economic sabotage but also pose environmental hazards. Crude oil theft and makeshift refining can cause oil spills, soil contamination, and damage to fishing resources critical to local livelihoods.
Captain Usman condemned the violent resistance as a “dangerous innovation” by criminal elements bent on frustrating security operations and sabotaging national resources. He said the operation aligns with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directive to prevent crude oil theft and protect Nigeria’s maritime and coastal assets.
“The Nigerian Navy urges law-abiding residents of riverine communities to resist being used by oil thieves,” Usman warned. “These criminal ventures benefit only a few individuals while destroying the livelihoods and ecosystems of entire communities.”
Authorities also cautioned that anyone obstructing Navy operations against crude oil theft would be treated as an accomplice and face prosecution under Nigerian law.
The Navy said it will continue intensified patrols and intelligence-led operations in the Niger Delta and other affected regions to dismantle illegal refineries and curb the theft of crude oil, a key national resource.
WASHINGTON (BN24)— President Donald Trump announced on Oct. 31, 2025, that he has designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) under U.S. religious-freedom law, asserting that Christians in Nigeria face an existential threat from radical Islamist violence. In a post on his social-media platform, Trump wrote, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’”
The move revives a policy originally applied to Nigeria in 2020 before being withdrawn during the previous administration. Under U.S. law, CPC designation signals serious violations of religious freedom and allows for diplomatic and economic consequences, though it does not automatically trigger sanctions. In his post, Trump called on U.S. lawmakers, including Representative Riley Moore and Representative Tom Cole, along with the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate “atrocities” in Nigeria and report back. He emphasised U.S. readiness to protect Christian populations worldwide.
The Nigerian government swiftly rejected the designation, calling the data behind the claims “inaccurate and misleading”. The Ministry of Information stated that violence in Nigeria is not faith-targeted but stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflict
Lawmakers in Washington, including Senator Ted Cruz, had urged redesignation of Nigeria, citing reported killings of Christians and destruction of churches. They argued that such action would provide diplomatic tools for pressure, including suspending arms sales until the Nigerian government takes tangible steps to halt the violence.
In Abuja, officials maintained that the narrative of a Christian genocide is part of a coordinated lobbying effort to destabilise Nigeria. A presidential spokesman described the campaign as driven by foreign interests rather than grounded in the country’s complex security reality.
This decision places Nigeria back in the spotlight of U.S. religious-freedom and human-rights policy, and could prompt deeper diplomatic engagement or sanctions if follow-through actions are pursued. As the designation takes effect, observers will watch how the U.S. and Nigeria respond in the coming weeks.
BOSTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump’s administration cannot suspend food aid for millions of Americans during the ongoing government shutdown, two federal judges ruled Friday, ordering the government to use contingency funds to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The dual rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island came in lawsuits seeking to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from suspending SNAP benefits, known as food stamps, starting Saturday. The decisions potentially preserved food assistance for 42 million low-income Americans who depend on the monthly payments.
Both judges ordered the administration to report back Monday on compliance with their decisions. The USDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving uncertainty about whether benefits would be distributed on November 1 as scheduled.
The rulings emerged as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue trading blame for the shutdown that began October 1, with SNAP benefits becoming a political flashpoint in the funding impasse.
SNAP benefits are available to Americans whose income falls below 130 percent of the federal poverty line, equivalent to $1,632 monthly for a one-person household or $2,215 for a two-person household in many areas. States administer the benefits on a day-to-day basis, with payments distributed monthly.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, concluding a hearing in a lawsuit filed by cities, nonprofits and a union, determined that the administration’s decision not to tap $5.25 billion in contingency funds for November benefits was arbitrary.
“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” McConnell stated during the hearing.
The judge ordered the agency to distribute emergency funds “as soon as possible,” adding that if the money proved insufficient, the agency should determine whether funds from a separate account containing approximately $23 billion could be utilized.
Minutes earlier, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that the administration was incorrect in claiming it was legally prohibited from using contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown. The Boston ruling came in a lawsuit brought by 25 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia.
Talwani, who like McConnell was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama, concluded that “the suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that the contingency funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments.”
The USDA has stated that insufficient funds exist to provide full benefits costing $8.5 billion to $9 billion monthly. The administration claimed the agency lacked authority to distribute payments until Congress passes spending legislation ending the government shutdown.
The USDA’s shutdown plan released last month indicated contingency funds were available to maintain SNAP benefits if Congress failed to enact spending legislation averting the October 1 funding lapse. However, the department updated its website last week stating no benefits would be issued November 1, declaring “the well has run dry” and prompting the lawsuits.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Friday morning characterized arguments by Democrats in Congress and Democratic-led states that the USDA possessed funds for November SNAP benefits as “a lie.”
Rollins argued the contingency fund can only be used when money for the food aid program is appropriated, stating the agency intends to reserve the funds for natural disaster responses or other emergencies.
“It is a contingency fund that can only flow if the underlying appropriation is approved,” Rollins told reporters on Capitol Hill alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson.
During a Thursday hearing, Justice Department attorney Jason Altabet warned that partial payments, unprecedented in the program’s history, could prove difficult, noting that officials were “legitimately scared” about whether antiquated state systems could handle the distribution.
“The agency thinks it would be catastrophic,” Altabet said, raising concerns about the technical capacity to implement partial benefit payments.
Both McConnell and Talwani indicated the administration possessed the ability to fund SNAP benefits fully if it exercised discretion to tap additional funding sources to cover shortfalls.
The court decisions represent a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s handling of the shutdown’s impact on social services. The rulings suggest judges found the administration’s interpretation of its funding authority too restrictive.
SNAP represents one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs, serving tens of millions of Americans including children, elderly individuals and people with disabilities. The monthly benefits help recipients purchase food at grocery stores and authorized retailers.
The potential suspension of benefits had created widespread alarm among anti-hunger advocates who warned that millions of families would face immediate food insecurity. Food banks and charitable organizations indicated they lacked capacity to serve the additional demand that would result from SNAP suspension.
The lawsuits reflected growing concern among state officials and advocacy organizations about the shutdown’s impact on vulnerable populations. Democratic-led states argued the administration possessed both legal authority and available funds to continue the program.
The judges’ orders requiring Monday reports on compliance suggest skepticism about the administration’s claims regarding funding limitations and legal constraints. The reporting requirement enables courts to monitor whether the government follows through on distributing benefits.
The technical challenges raised by the Justice Department attorney regarding state payment systems highlight the complexity of administering benefits during the shutdown. Many states rely on older computer systems that may not easily accommodate irregular payment schedules or amounts.
Two Russian mobsters were sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Wednesday for a failed plot to assassinate Iranian American journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad at her New York’s Brooklyn home — a plan U.S. prosecutors say was orchestrated and financed by the Iranian government to silence her global advocacy.
In a Manhattan courtroom, Alinejad faced her would-be killers, Rafat Amirov, 46, and Polad Omarov, 41, calling them agents of fear who tried but failed to break her spirit. “I crossed an ocean to come to America and have a normal life, and I don’t have a normal life,” she told the court. “I’m a brave woman. I’m a strong woman. They couldn’t break me. But they brought fear to my life. These criminals turned my life upside down.”
U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon condemned the plot as a “terrible, terrible crime” and said her sentence should serve as a warning to any foreign government or criminal network that seeks to carry out violence on American soil. “This kind of conduct will not be tolerated by the United States,” she said.
The case exposed an elaborate network linking organized crime and Iranian intelligence. Prosecutors said Amirov and Omarov, both high-ranking members of the Russian mob faction known as the Gulici, were motivated by a $500,000 payment from Tehran to arrange Alinejad’s killing in July 2022, after previous attempts to kidnap her failed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lockard told the court that Iranian officials hoped the assassination would send a message to women defying the regime. “The intended target was not just Masih Alinejad,” Lockard said. “It was the millions of women who look to her to be their voice and to shine a light on the regime’s brutality.”
Masih Alinejad
Alinejad, 49, fled Iran in 2009 after being banned from journalism. She later built an international following from New York City through her campaign “My Stealthy Freedom,” encouraging Iranian women to film themselves removing headscarves in protest of compulsory hijab laws.
The 2022 plot came “chillingly near success,” prosecutors said, interrupted only by chance — Alinejad happened to be out of town when a hired gunman arrived at her Brooklyn residence. U.S. law enforcement discovered and disrupted the plan before it could be executed.
Outside court, Alinejad, wearing a symbolic red coat “because the killers wanted to see me covered in blood,” declared victory over fear. “Justice is beautiful,” she said. “They wanted to see me dead on my porch, but I am alive. I am standing.”
Standing beside her was Barry Rosen, a former American hostage in Iran, who called Alinejad “one of the most important voices in the world.” Alinejad, clutching a yellow sunflower, vowed to continue fighting for the women of Iran despite years of threats and constant relocation. “Now I cannot even ride a bicycle with the wind in my hair,” she said. “I have to look over my shoulder. But I will never stop.”
FBI agents in Michigan have arrested multiple people accused of plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, announced Friday on social media.
The law enforcement operation unfolded across suburban Detroit, with investigators saying the suspects’ plan appeared to have been inspired by Islamic State extremism. Authorities are now examining whether those arrested had been radicalized online, according to two officials briefed on the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Patel said additional details will be released later but stressed that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
FBI agents and Michigan State Police were seen near Fordson High School in Dearborn on Friday, where officers entered and exited a house as part of the investigation. Witnesses reported seeing agents carrying paper bags and other items from an evidence truck. In Inkster, another Detroit suburb, FBI personnel were also spotted at a local storage facility.
Jordan Hall, an FBI spokesperson in Detroit, confirmed that “there is no current threat to public safety,” but declined to comment further on the case.
Officials familiar with the investigation said the suspects had been discussing potential attacks in an online chatroom. Some members of the group referred to their plan as taking place on “pumpkin day,” a coded reference to Halloween, one official said. It remains unclear whether the group had acquired weapons or materials necessary to carry out an attack, but the nature of the discussions prompted authorities to move quickly with arrests late Friday.
A local attorney, Hussein Bazzi, who was present at the Dearborn home, said he was representing individuals connected to the case but declined further comment when contacted by phone.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed she had been briefed by Patel and thanked law enforcement for what she called their “swift action,” though she did not provide details.
Residents in the Dearborn neighborhood said the arrests came as a shock. “It’s really scary because we have a lot of relatives around this neighborhood,” said Fatima Saleh, who lives next door to one of the homes raided.
The arrests come months after a separate terrorism case in the Detroit area. In May, the FBI detained a man named Ammar Said, accused of plotting an attack against a U.S. Army facility on behalf of the Islamic State group. Said’s supposed co-conspirators turned out to be undercover FBI agents. He remains in custody on charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and prosecutors have since filed a criminal “information” document — a possible sign of forthcoming plea negotiations.
Authorities have not indicated whether the latest arrests are connected to that earlier case, but Patel said Friday’s operation underscores the FBI’s ongoing efforts to “detect, disrupt, and dismantle threats before they endanger American lives.”
Queens (BN24) – New York City was pummeled by torrential rains that shattered October rainfall records, killing two people in flooded basements and disrupting flights across the region’s major airports, officials said late Wednesday.
Authorities confirmed that a 39-year-old man in Brooklyn and a 43-year-old man in Manhattan died after becoming trapped in flooded basement areas as storms swept through the city. The downpour, described by meteorologists as historic, brought the city to a standstill with flash floods inundating streets, subways, and homes.
Emergency responders in Brooklyn said a scuba team recovered the body of the 39-year-old victim after he tried to rescue one of his dogs in the basement of a three-story townhouse. In Manhattan, police discovered another man’s body in a flooded boiler room, with investigations into the cause of death ongoing. Both incidents occurred while the National Weather Service had flash flood warnings in effect across parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Mayor Eric Adams said the deluge overwhelmed New York’s drainage systems. “This storm broke rainfall records for October 30,” Adams said on X. “Much of the rain forecast to fall over several hours came down in just ten minutes.”
According to the National Weather Service, Central Park recorded 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) of rainfall, LaGuardia Airport logged 2.09 inches (5.31 cm), and Newark Liberty International Airport saw 1.99 inches (5.05 cm). The sudden downpour turned streets into rivers, leaving cars submerged and trees toppled across neighborhoods.
Airport officials at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark confirmed that dozens of flights were delayed or canceled due to flooding and ground stoppages. “Street flooding was highly localized,” one transport official said, “but several intersections and airport access roads became impassable for hours.”
City workers were deployed overnight to clear clogged drains, while weather authorities issued coastal flood warnings for low-lying areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The heavy rain, which followed a season of unusually warm and wet weather, exposed the limits of New York’s aging stormwater infrastructure.
Mayor Adams warned that climate-related storms are hitting the city with growing frequency and intensity. “When you look at the amount of water coming down,” he said, “our sewer systems are just not built to handle that.”
The latest storm marks one of the most severe October rain events on record for New York City, following similar floods that paralyzed the city in 2021 and 2023. Officials said recovery crews remain on alert as additional showers are forecast in the coming days.
