French authorities have arrested multiple suspects in connection with the audacious theft of France’s Crown Jewels from the Louvre museum, a heist that stunned the art world and exposed security lapses at one of the world’s most visited cultural institutions.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed Sunday that the arrests were made Saturday evening, one week after the jewels — valued at €88 million ($102 million) — were stolen in a lightning-fast operation that lasted less than eight minutes. One suspect was detained while preparing to leave the country from Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, Beccuau said in a statement.
While French media outlets BFM TV and Le Parisien reported that two men were in custody, Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests and declined to say whether any of the stolen treasures had been recovered. She emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and warned that premature leaks of information could jeopardize the work of the more than 100 officers assigned to the case.
The arrests were carried out by France’s elite police unit specializing in armed robberies, major burglaries, and art thefts. “These investigators have been mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators,” Beccuau said.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the operation, commending “the investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.”
The Louvre, which reopened earlier this week, remains at the center of what experts are calling one of the most significant museum thefts in decades. Officials said the thieves used a basket lift to scale the museum’s façade, forced open a window, smashed display cases, and escaped within minutes before guards could respond. “It was a terrible failure,” the museum’s director admitted after the theft.
Among the stolen pieces were eight priceless objects from France’s royal and imperial heritage, including a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and an earring set once belonging to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. The thieves also made off with an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch.
The most valuable missing items included Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and a large corsage-bow brooch, both described as masterpieces of imperial jewelry. One significant piece — Eugénie’s emerald-studded imperial crown adorned with over 1,300 diamonds — was later discovered damaged but recoverable outside the museum.
The theft has been described by cultural observers as a symbolic blow to France’s national identity, with some comparing it to the 2019 fire that devastated Notre Dame Cathedral. The investigation continues as authorities work to track down the remaining culprits and recover the missing jewels.
LONDON (BN24) — Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has raised the possibility of running for president again in 2028, suggesting she may make another bid for the White House after her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
In her first UK interview, broadcast on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Harris responded to questions about her political future, affirming that a woman would one day occupy the White House, and she may be the one to do it. When asked directly about a potential 2028 presidential run, Harris replied, “Possibly,” confirming she is considering a second attempt at the top job.
“I am not done,” Harris said, emphasizing that her career has always been about public service, and that this commitment runs deep in her bones. The former vice-president expressed confidence that future generations, including her grandnieces, will see a female president during their lifetime, hinting that she could be the one to break that barrier.
Although Harris has refrained from making any concrete promises, her comments represent the clearest indication yet that she might run again, following the devastating loss to Trump last year. Despite some political analysts and polls positioning her as an outsider for the next Democratic nomination, she dismissed these predictions, claiming that if she had listened to the polls in the past, she never would have achieved her political success.
“If I listened to polls, I wouldn’t have run for my first office, or my second office, and I certainly wouldn’t be sitting here,” Harris remarked. Her defiance came in the context of a broader conversation about her political resilience and determination to push forward.
During the interview, Harris also revisited her intense criticism of Trump, calling him a “tyrant” and stating that many of the warnings she issued about his authoritarian tendencies had, unfortunately, come to fruition. She referenced Trump’s weaponization of the Department of Justice, describing his efforts to control federal agencies and silence political critics as evidence of his fascist leanings.
Harris also slammed those business leaders and institutions that, in her view, have kowtowed to Trump’s demands, accusing them of aligning with a “tyrant” to protect their interests. “There are many who have capitulated since day one… bending the knee at the foot of a tyrant,” she stated, speaking to the broader climate of compromise and fear that she believes Trump has created in America.
The interview also touched on the tumultuous aftermath of her 2024 presidential campaign, a race in which Harris and President Joe Biden faced significant challenges, particularly with economic messaging and voter outreach. Some in the Democratic Party have questioned whether Harris could have done more to set a clearer message, especially regarding critical issues like the economy.
When asked about the possibility that Biden should have stepped aside earlier to allow her a more prominent role in the campaign, Harris responded cautiously. “I needed more time to connect with working people,” she said, reflecting on the challenges of mounting a late-stage campaign with limited resources and a fragmented message. However, she admitted that even with more time, it’s uncertain if her message would have resonated enough to overtake Trump’s electoral momentum.
While Harris did not shy away from discussing her regrets about the 2024 election, she suggested that her late start made it impossible to compete effectively. “We started so late, it was almost impossible to win,” she said, pointing to the narrowing gap in the popular vote, although acknowledging her substantial loss in the Electoral College.
Despite the bruising nature of her defeat, Harris remained upbeat about her political future. Her remarks to the BBC indicate that her political ambitions remain alive, even if there is still uncertainty surrounding the path forward for the Democratic Party. Asked if she still viewed herself as a contender for the presidency, she didn’t rule out another campaign. However, her final message was clear: she is committed to continuing her political journey.
Harris’s upcoming book, 107 Days, offers a candid account of the rapid shift in the 2024 race after Biden withdrew from the field, allowing Harris to jump in with little time to mount a full-fledged campaign. During the interview, she was pressed on whether she should have urged Biden to step down sooner. Harris was also asked if she might have been president now, instead of Trump, had Biden done so earlier. The answer to that question, as Harris acknowledged, remains one of the great “ifs” in recent American history.
Although she is currently focused on a book tour and not a presidential campaign, Harris’s words seem to indicate that she is leaving the door open for a potential second run. The political landscape, after all, is never static, and as Harris herself put it, “I am not done.”
MAXTON, N.C. (BN24) — Two people were killed and seven others were critically injured early Saturday in a mass shooting at a large house party in southeastern North Carolina, authorities said.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called to a home just outside Maxton at around 1:15 a.m. after receiving complaints of loud music. While en route, multiple 911 calls came in reporting that several individuals had been shot at the location.
When deputies arrived, they found a chaotic scene with more than 150 people fleeing the area. Thirteen people were ultimately confirmed to have been shot, according to Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.
Two victims, identified as 49-year-old Jessie Locklear Jr. and 16-year-old Nehemiah Locklear, were pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said several other victims were transported to Scotland Health Care in Laurinburg and UNC Health Southeastern Medical Center in Lumberton. One person with life-threatening injuries was later transferred to another medical facility for advanced treatment.
Officials said some of the victims suffered non-life-threatening wounds and were treated and released, while others remain hospitalized in critical condition. The surviving victims range in age from 17 to 43.
Sheriff Wilkins described the incident as “a senseless act of gun violence” and said investigators are working to identify everyone involved. “What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol, and guns at a large house party,” Wilkins said in a statement. “Those responsible for this reckless and heartless act must be held accountable. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragic event.”
Authorities said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. The sheriff’s office urged anyone with information to contact investigators at 910-671-3100 or email sh*************@***************nc.gov.
The investigation remains active as detectives interview witnesses and review evidence collected from the scene.
MIAMI (BN24) — Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified into a major Category 3 storm late Saturday, threatening to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread damage as it churns slowly toward Jamaica and the northern Caribbean.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Melissa’s maximum sustained winds reached 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) Saturday night, officially classifying it as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The storm was moving west at just six kilometers per hour, a pace forecasters warned could prolong its destructive impacts across the region.
As of 11 p.m. ET Saturday, the storm’s center was located roughly 200 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 455 kilometers southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Hurricane warnings were issued for Jamaica, with watches in effect for parts of eastern Cuba, southern Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Meteorologists expect Melissa to intensify further on Sunday, potentially reaching Category 4 strength before making landfall in Jamaica early next week. The NHC warned that the slow-moving system could dump up to 1,000 millimeters of rain, nearly 40 inches, across parts of Jamaica by Wednesday, triggering “life-threatening flash flooding, catastrophic landslides, and long-duration power outages.”
Similar rainfall totals are forecast for southwestern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic, where flash floods and landslides are already occurring. Eastern Cuba could receive up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain as the storm’s outer bands sweep over the island midweek.
“Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, the situation is increasingly dire,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the NHC. “Melissa’s slow motion will cause a multi-day event of damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and flooding across the Caribbean.”
At least three people have died in Haiti, according to local civil protection officials, after flooding and collapsed structures in the northern regions. A fourth fatality was reported in the Dominican Republic, where one person remains missing after rivers overflowed in the Santiago and San Cristóbal provinces. Five others were injured when a wall collapsed during heavy rains in Haiti.
Floodwaters have destroyed dozens of homes in Haiti’s northeastern town of Sainte-Suzanne, where a bridge was washed away after the Rivière du Nord breached its banks. Authorities said rising river levels had cut off several communities, hampering rescue efforts and the delivery of emergency supplies.
In the Dominican Republic, officials reported that nearly 200 homes were damaged, and water supply systems were knocked out, affecting more than 500,000 residents. Downed trees, power lines, and damaged roads have left more than two dozen communities isolated by floodwaters.
In Jamaica, authorities are bracing for a direct hit. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the government had activated more than 650 emergency shelters across the island, stocked warehouses with food and medical supplies, and prepared thousands of relief packages for rapid deployment.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously,” Holness said in a televised address. “Take all measures to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property. Do not wait until it’s too late.”
The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority announced that all airports would close within 24 hours once hurricane conditions are imminent. Coastal evacuations are underway in low-lying communities, and residents have been advised to secure their homes and prepare for extended power outages.
The NHC reinforced those warnings Saturday evening in its key message, cautioning residents that “Jamaica preparations should be completed today. Melissa’s slow motion brings multi-day damaging winds plus heavy rainfall, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation.”
Forecasters said the storm’s outer rainbands will reach the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week, possibly bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the region.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-average season with 13 to 18 named storms, driven by warmer ocean temperatures and persistent atmospheric instability.
As Jamaica and neighboring nations brace for impact, emergency teams are racing to position relief supplies and restore communications in affected areas. “We’re preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” said Ronald Delice, Haiti’s director of civil protection for the Nord-Est department. “People are scared, but we must stay vigilant.”
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. (BN24)— Law enforcement officials are investigating a Saturday night shooting at Lincoln University in southeastern Pennsylvania that left multiple people injured during the school’s homecoming weekend, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
The shooting unfolded on the campus of Lincoln University, a historically Black university about 50 miles southwest of Philadelphia, as students and alumni gathered for homecoming festivities. Authorities confirmed several people were hurt, though the exact number of victims and the severity of their injuries were not immediately released.
In a statement posted on social media, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said it was “aware of a shooting with multiple victims that occurred at Lincoln University this evening” and that “law enforcement has responded to the scene and is actively investigating.”
Police units from multiple agencies swarmed the area shortly after reports of gunfire. Emergency medical personnel treated the wounded at the scene before transporting them to nearby hospitals. The university campus was temporarily placed on lockdown while officers secured the area and began gathering evidence.
As of late Saturday, no information had been released regarding a suspect or possible motive. Officials said they were interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage from around the campus in an effort to piece together what led to the shooting.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed on the developing situation and offered his support to Lincoln University officials and the surrounding community. “Our administration stands ready to assist law enforcement and the university as they respond to this tragic event,” Shapiro said in a statement.
The incident has cast a shadow over the university’s annual Homecoming Weekend, typically a celebration that draws current students, alumni, and their families to campus. University officials have not yet announced whether remaining homecoming events will proceed as scheduled.
Founded in 1854, Lincoln University is one of the nation’s oldest historically Black universities, known for its distinguished alumni and contributions to African American higher education.
Officials urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact local authorities as the investigation continues.
MADRID (BN24) — Real Madrid will be looking to move five points clear at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome Barcelona to Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon for the latest installment of El Clasico.
Los Blancos are currently two points clear of second-placed Blaugrana at the summit, but both have already lost in Spain’s top flight this term, and it is shaping up to be another fascinating battle between the bitter rivals.
Real Madrid have almost been note-perfect this season, posting eleven wins from their twelve matches in all competitions, with their only defeat coming away to Atletico Madrid at the end of September. Xabi Alonso’s side have won eight of their nine league matches, with twenty-four points seeing them top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, and they recorded a 1-0 victory over Getafe in La Liga last time out.
Los Blancos were also 1-0 winners in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet against Juventus to keep the capital outfit perfect in the league phase of the tournament.
Real Madrid have not been at their best this season, already conceding nine times in their nine matches, but they are the second-highest goalscorers in Spain’s top flight this term on twenty goals, four fewer than Barcelona have managed.
Los Blancos have four more games before the November international break kicks in, welcoming Valencia to Bernabeu on November 1 before the small matter of a trip to Liverpool in the Champions League three days later. Alonso’s side will then head to Rayo Vallecano in the league on November 9.
Real Madrid will have revenge on their minds in this match, as Barcelona won all four matches between the two sides last season across three competitions, including a stunning 4-0 victory at Bernabeu last October.
Barcelona were in Champions League action during the week, recording a 6-1 victory over Olympiacos to return to winning ways in the competition, making it six points from their first three matches.
The Catalan outfit were stunned by Sevilla before the October international break, suffering a 4-1 defeat, but they managed to bounce back against Girona last weekend, securing a 2-1 win, before finding the back of the net on six occasions in the Champions League last time out.
Barcelona’s other dropped points in La Liga this season came away to Rayo Vallecano at the end of August, and injury problems have caused the champions issues early in the campaign. Their defense has also been far from watertight, and that will be a cause for concern ahead of this match.
Hansi Flick’s side will play four more matches before the campaign is again halted in November, taking on Elche and Celta Vigo either side of a Champions League game away to Club Brugge.
Barcelona will again be looking to Lamine Yamal for inspiration on Sunday, but he will need help from those around him, with the Catalan outfit set to be missing some key attackers at Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have welcomed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen back into their squad for Sunday’s match, but Antonio Rudiger is still out with a serious muscular injury. David Alaba will also again miss out due to a groin complaint, but Dani Ceballos has returned, while Los Blancos have not suffered any fresh issues in the build-up to the much-anticipated contest.
Due to the uncertainty at the back, Federico Valverde is likely to continue at right-back, with Raul Asencio in the middle. The latter was forced off late against Juventus but was only suffering from cramp.
Bellingham scored his first goal of the campaign against Juventus, and the England international will be looking to join an attack which is set to include Franco Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
As for Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong is back in training after an illness and will start, but Jules Kounde is a major doubt, having missed training on Thursday and Friday due to a knock.
Raphinha was also absent from training Friday, with the Brazilian losing his battle to recover from a hamstring injury in time, which is a major blow for Barcelona, as he was expected to be available.
Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo are definitely out of the match, so Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford could form the attacking three behind Ferran Torres.
Ronald Araujo is likely to feature in the middle of the defense alongside Pau Cubarsi if Kounde is ruled out, with Eric Garcia potentially being required at right-back.
Real Madrid’s possible starting lineup features Courtois in goal, Valverde, Militao, Asencio and Carreras in defense, Guler, Tchouameni and Bellingham in midfield, with Mastantuono, Mbappe and Vinicius in attack.
Barcelona’s possible starting lineup includes Szczesny in goal, Eric Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi and Balde in defense, Pedri and De Jong in midfield, with Yamal, Fermin and Rashford supporting Ferran Torres in attack.
This is always a difficult match to predict, but Real Madrid will enter as favorites considering that it is at Bernabeu while also taking into account Barcelona’s injury problems. That said, the Catalan giants still have significant quality in their side.
Real Madrid’s La Liga form shows six matches with five wins and one loss. Barcelona’s La Liga form shows six matches with five wins and one loss. Both teams have been strong in all competitions with Real Madrid posting six matches with five wins and one loss, while Barcelona shows six matches with four wins and two losses.
The match represents a critical juncture in the La Liga title race. A Real Madrid victory would establish a five-point cushion at the top of the table, while a Barcelona win would level the teams on points and potentially shift momentum in the championship chase.
The historical context adds intrigue to Sunday’s encounter. Barcelona’s sweep of all four meetings last season, including the emphatic 4-0 triumph at Bernabeu, gives Real Madrid additional motivation to avenge those defeats.
Both managers face selection challenges. Alonso must manage defensive absences while maintaining attacking potency. Flick confronts a more severe injury crisis, particularly in attack where the unavailability of Lewandowski, Olmo and Raphinha forces creative solutions.
The tactical battle will likely center on how Barcelona’s makeshift attack handles Real Madrid’s reorganized defense. Yamal’s creativity becomes even more crucial given Barcelona’s offensive absences, while Real Madrid’s attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham presents formidable threats.
An entertaining draw appears the most likely outcome given both teams’ quality and current circumstances, though home advantage and Barcelona’s injury problems tilt odds slightly toward Real Madrid securing three points to extend their league lead.
LONDON (BN24) — Premier League leaders Arsenal return to action on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, aiming to extend their advantage at the top of the table as they host a resilient Crystal Palace side.
The Gunners and the Eagles last met in north London in a thrilling 2–2 draw, a result that came when Arsenal’s title hopes were beginning to falter. Despite that setback, Mikel Arteta’s men went on to win both of their other meetings with Palace last season, including a dominant 5–1 victory away from home.
Crystal Palace, led by manager Oliver Glasner, have enjoyed an impressive spell since then — lifting both the FA Cup and the Community Shield while setting a new club record with an 18-match unbeaten run. However, their momentum has dipped in recent weeks. The Eagles enter Sunday’s clash winless in three games across all competitions, including a disappointing home defeat to AEK Larnaca in Thursday’s Europa Conference League fixture.
Arsenal, on the other hand, continue to display formidable form. The north London club notched their sixth straight victory on Tuesday night, overpowering Atlético Madrid 4–0 in the Champions League. The result maintained their perfect start to Europe’s top competition and reaffirmed their credentials as serious contenders on multiple fronts.
Arteta’s men boast the league’s tightest defense, but the manager faces a potential setback with the possible absence of star defender Gabriel, who has not trained since sustaining an injury in midweek. Should he be unavailable, Cristhian Mosquera is expected to partner William Saliba at the heart of defense, while recent signing Piero Hincapié may also be an option after making just one appearance since joining on deadline day.
Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard are likely to return to the starting lineup, while Eberechi Eze is expected to retain his place as he faces his former club. Arsenal will again be without Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and captain Martin Ødegaard due to ongoing injuries.
For the visitors, Glasner is expected to rotate his squad after Thursday’s European defeat. Chris Richards and Adam Wharton are likely to return to the lineup, while former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah could start in tandem with Jean-Philippe Mateta up front. Injured pair Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad remain sidelined.
Prediction: Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 0. Crystal Palace’s recent dip in form and their struggles in the final third may continue against an Arsenal side that has looked nearly flawless this season. Even without Gabriel, the Gunners’ defensive discipline and attacking firepower are expected to be too strong for the visitors, who will find it difficult to breach the hosts’ back line at the Emirates.
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (BN24) — Tensions in Cameroon escalated on Friday as two prominent opposition leaders were arrested amid protests over the controversial presidential election results, which are set to be announced by the country’s constitutional council on Monday.
Anicet Ekane and Djeukam Tchameni, key figures in the Union for Change political platform, were arrested late Friday in Douala, Cameroon’s economic hub, according to their parties. Both men had endorsed Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a leading opposition candidate who claims he defeated President Paul Biya in the October 12 election. Their arrest has intensified the unrest sweeping across the nation, with opposition groups alleging electoral fraud and government attempts to suppress dissent.
The African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party also reported that several of its members, including the party’s treasurer, were “kidnapped” by local security forces. In a statement, MANIDEM accused the government of using force to intimidate opposition figures and supporters, warning that such actions are aimed at stifling democratic expression.
The precise circumstances surrounding the arrests remain unclear, and neither the government nor the security forces has provided detailed explanations. However, Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, confirmed the arrests of several individuals earlier in the week. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Nji claimed that these individuals were suspected of plotting violent acts under the guise of protests. He added that the government had intercepted plans to infiltrate peaceful demonstrations and incite violence, which would then be blamed on law enforcement.
“We are fully aware of the situation,” Nji said. “These individuals were planning to infiltrate groups of protesters and cause terrorist attacks that would result in the loss of lives. These deaths would later be attributed to the forces of law and order.”
As the government prepares to announce the final results of the election, opposition supporters have continued to demonstrate across the country, calling for a fair and transparent voting process. Tchiroma, who has alleged that he won the election based on results collated by his party, has accused Biya’s government of attempting to rig the vote and disrupt the democratic process.
Protests took place in several cities on Saturday, including in Bafoussam, the capital of the West Region, where groups of motorcyclists flooded major roads, demanding a credible election. In the days prior, security forces clashed with demonstrators in other cities, leading to several arrests. Authorities also reported that one person was killed during the protests in Garoua, a northern city.
The victim, a 30-year-old primary schoolteacher named Zairatou Hassana, was not involved in the protests, according to her uncle, Amadou Adji. He told The Associated Press that she had been out to check on her sister, who had not yet returned home from school. Hassana’s death has sparked outrage across the country, with many accusing the government of using excessive force against unarmed civilians.
“Her death is a painful reminder of the injustices under this regime,” Adji said. “Like many other Cameroonians, I now carry a bad memory of this government.”
In response to the arrests and rising protests, Tchiroma posted a message on social media Friday, warning that any attempt to arrest him would be “an assault against the entire Cameroonian people.” In a Facebook post, he called on the government to recognize the will of the people and the results of what he claims was a legitimate election victory.
“The people are simply asking you to recognize their victory,” Tchiroma said.
As tensions rise ahead of the final election results, the situation in Cameroon remains volatile. The country, which has seen a series of disputed elections in recent years, faces growing unrest as citizens demand a transparent and fair process. With the final vote count expected on Monday, all eyes are on the constitutional council’s announcement, which could either quell or intensify the unrest.
A shooting inside the Austin Central Library on Saturday afternoon left one person seriously injured and prompted a temporary lockdown in downtown Austin, police said. Authorities later arrested a suspect in connection with the incident.
According to the Austin Police Department, officers responded to multiple 911 calls shortly after noon reporting gunfire inside the city’s main public library, located in the heart of the state capital. Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers said during a briefing that emergency crews arrived within minutes and found one person suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Police said the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived but was located and taken into custody in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m. Rogers did not release details about the suspect’s identity, possible motive, or what led up to the shooting. Investigators are still determining where inside the library the shooting took place.
“This appears to be an isolated incident, not an active shooter situation,” Rogers said. “We believe there is no ongoing threat to the community.”
The Austin Central Library, a major public facility that often attracts weekend visitors and students, was immediately evacuated. The city’s emergency management office issued a shelter-in-place alert for the surrounding downtown area as police secured the scene and ensured there were no additional threats. The alert was lifted later in the afternoon once the situation was contained.
Video from the scene showed multiple police cruisers, ambulances, and fire trucks parked along West César Chávez Street, with officers escorting library patrons and staff to safety. Witnesses said confusion spread quickly as alarms sounded and people were told to evacuate.
Authorities have not yet released the name or age of the victim. Police said the investigation remains active and urged anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded video footage to contact Austin police detectives.
The Austin Police Department thanked residents for their cooperation during the lockdown and emphasized that early evidence suggests the shooting stemmed from a personal dispute rather than a random act of violence.
BAWKU, Ghana (BN24) — At least four people, including two women, have been killed in separate shootings within 24 hours in Bawku and surrounding communities in Ghana’s Upper East Region, in what security officials fear could mark a resurgence of violent conflict in the area.
The attacks, which began early Friday and continued into Saturday morning, have left residents terrified and prompted an intensified military presence in the volatile municipality, long marred by ethnic tension between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups.
According to local sources, the first victim, a woman, was shot dead early Friday morning after stepping out of her home to meet a colleague. Her death was followed by another attack that evening around 7 p.m., when two armed men on a motorbike opened fire at a popular drinking spot in Garu, killing a man identified as Salam. Witnesses said the gunmen fled the scene immediately, leaving residents in shock.
Later that night, around 11 p.m., another woman was gunned down in Binduri under similar circumstances. Her attackers reportedly escaped before security forces could respond. The following morning, around 6 a.m. Saturday, gunmen ambushed and killed a man identified only as Azimbe along the Atuba road near Binduri.
Reports suggest that Azimbe was the son of the late Kusasi chief, who was murdered in Asawasi, Kumasi, in July this year, raising fears that the killings may be linked to ongoing reprisals and long-standing family or ethnic grievances.
The series of attacks has plunged the Bawku municipality into renewed tension. The area has been under a dusk-to-dawn curfew for several months, with restrictions on movement and a ban on carrying firearms. Security officials said the new wave of violence threatens to undermine peace efforts and humanitarian support in the area.
Military sources confirmed that ten people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the second woman in Binduri. The suspects are reportedly assisting police with investigations. Security patrols have since been increased across Bawku, Garu, and Binduri, as joint police-military teams move to restore calm and prevent retaliatory attacks.
Residents say fear has gripped the community, with many choosing to remain indoors. Schools and businesses operated below capacity on Saturday, as uncertainty hung over the municipality.
Bawku, a bustling trading hub near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso, has been plagued by intermittent clashes for decades, largely fueled by deep-rooted chieftaincy and ethnic disputes. Despite government mediation and multiple peace initiatives, sporadic violence continues to erupt, claiming dozens of lives in recent years.
Local leaders and civil society groups are once again urging the government to intensify peacebuilding efforts and address the root causes of the Bawku conflict. “We cannot continue to live like this every few months; more blood is shed,” a resident told Myjoyonline.com on condition of anonymity.
Security analysts warn that the renewed violence could further destabilize the Upper East Region if swift and decisive action is not taken to curb reprisal attacks and disarm militant groups.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue into the killings.
