WILMINGTON, N.C. (BN24) — A veterinary hospital still under construction in Wilmington was destroyed Tuesday morning after a car struck a gas line, triggering a massive explosion that injured three firefighters, police said.
Authorities said the crash occurred about 20 minutes before the blast when a vehicle ran off the road and hit the gas meter feeding the new Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center. Wilmington Police Department spokesperson Greg Willett said the driver fled the scene before officers arrived.
As firefighters evacuated the building and searched to ensure no one was inside, the structure suddenly exploded, Wilmington Fire Department spokesperson Rebekah Thurston said. Three firefighters were injured in the blast — two suffered non-life-threatening injuries while another sustained severe burns to his hands and arms. All were taken to the hospital.
No construction workers, veterinary staff, or animals were harmed, the hospital said in a statement on Facebook.
Police later located the vehicle and took the driver into custody. The suspect, who showed signs of impairment, is being evaluated by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Willett said.
Officials said surrounding streets remain closed while investigators determine the full extent of the damage and what caused the ignition.
The Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral hospital, which was scheduled to open in September, had planned to provide 24-hour emergency care for pets. The explosion has now left the future of the new facility in question.
KATSINA, Nigeria (BN24) — Armed men stormed a mosque in northwestern Nigeria early Tuesday, killing at least 13 people as worshippers gathered for morning prayers, authorities said.
The attack took place in the town of Unguwan Mantau in Katsina state, an area plagued by repeated assaults from armed groups operating in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions. No group has claimed responsibility, but officials said the assault bore the hallmarks of the bandit militias who have carried out similar attacks on farming communities in recent years.
Nasir Mu’azu, Katsina’s state commissioner, said security forces have been deployed to the area to prevent further bloodshed. He noted that armed groups often use farmlands and dense crops as cover during the rainy season to ambush rural communities.
Authorities believe Tuesday’s mosque massacre may have been an act of reprisal. Over the weekend, residents of Unguwan Mantau staged an ambush that left several gunmen dead, Mu’azu said. “This attack appears to be retaliation,” he told local media.
The violence highlights the worsening security crisis in Nigeria’s rural belt, where deadly clashes between herders and farmers have intensified. Farmers accuse Fulani herders of destroying crops by grazing cattle on their land, while herders insist they are following traditional grazing routes established decades ago.
Beyond the communal conflict, Nigeria continues to face the long-running Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, which has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced over 2 million since 2009, according to United Nations estimates.
Last month, at least 150 people were killed in coordinated raids on villages in north-central Nigeria, underscoring the growing reach and firepower of armed groups. Analysts and officials warn that more herders and militia fighters are taking up arms, further destabilizing rural areas.
The latest mosque attack adds to fears that violence in the northwest is spiraling beyond the government’s control, even as military deployments attempt to contain the unrest.
ZAMFARA STATE (BN24) — Armed bandits have killed two Mobile Police Force (MOPOL) operatives in a deadly attack on Tsafe town in Zamfara State, just two weeks after one of the officers received a promotion. The violent incident occurred late Sunday night, August 17, 2025, when the bandits launched an assault on the outskirts of Tsafe along Yankuzo road, according to a security source who spoke to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama.
The source revealed that the two officers, who were on duty in the area, came under heavy gunfire from the attackers and were killed in the ensuing confrontation. One of the victims, Abdulhamid Abubakar Gobir, had recently been promoted from corporal to sergeant just two weeks prior to the attack. He was on special assignment from MOPOL 22 PMF Lagos State at the time of the incident.
A colleague confirmed the tragic loss, noting that Gobir’s dedication to duty was well recognized within the Mobile Police Force. The slain officer was laid to rest at the 42 PMF Mobile Base in Gusau on Monday, August 18.
The attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara State, where banditry and violence continue to threaten law enforcement officers and civilians alike.
AWKA, Nigeria (BN24) — A shocking video has surfaced showing a female corps member stripped naked and beaten by armed vigilante officers in Anambra State, sparking outrage and calls for accountability.
The victim, identified as Jennifer Edema Elohor, was attacked on July 23, 2025, by operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, also known as Agunechemba Vigilante Group, according to the Haven360 Foundation. The human rights group said the vigilantes stormed the corps members’ lodge and accused residents of engaging in cybercrime, commonly called “Yahoo Yahoo.”
Despite presenting their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms and identity cards, Elohor was dragged outside, assaulted and stripped naked by the gun-wielding officers. Video footage shows her crying and pleading while being repeatedly struck, as one officer laughed during the assault.
The Haven360 Foundation condemned the attack as a gross violation of human rights and urged the Anambra State government to investigate, identify and prosecute those responsible.
The viral video has fueled nationwide outrage, with rights advocates demanding stronger protection for corps members and stricter regulation of vigilante groups operating in Anambra and across Nigeria.
TEHRAN, Iran (BN24) — Iranian authorities on Tuesday carried out a public execution of a man convicted of murdering a family of four in Fars province, state media reported.
The execution took place in the southern city of Beyram on August 19 after the man was found guilty of killing a mother and her three children during a robbery in October 2024, according to Mizan, the judiciary’s official news outlet.
Mizan said the man and his wife were both charged in connection with the killings. They were sentenced to death in February 2025, and the country’s Supreme Court upheld the verdict in April.
While the man was hanged in public, officials confirmed that his wife’s execution will be carried out inside prison at an unspecified date.
Iran imposes the death penalty for crimes including murder and rape, with rights groups such as Amnesty International reporting that the country carries out the second-highest number of executions worldwide, after China.
LIVERPOOL, England (BN24) — A 47-year-old man has been banned from attending all football stadiums across the United Kingdom after he was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League season opener at Anfield.
The incident occurred during the 29th minute of the match between Liverpool and Bournemouth on Friday, prompting a temporary halt in play after Semenyo reported the abuse to the match official. The Premier League forward alerted the referee immediately, leading to swift intervention and subsequent police involvement.
Merseyside Police confirmed the man, a resident of Liverpool, was taken into custody the following day. He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and has since been conditionally bailed. His bail conditions include a comprehensive ban from attending any regulated football matches in the UK and a one-mile exclusion zone around any designated stadium on matchdays.
The force said the investigation remains ongoing and that officers are working in close collaboration with Liverpool Football Club to support both the case and broader anti-racism efforts.
Semenyo, 25, later addressed the incident in a statement posted on social media, saying the night at Anfield was one he would never forget. He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from his AFC Bournemouth teammates, Liverpool players, fans, and Premier League officials, all of whom he praised for their “professional” and united response.
The Premier League, clubs, and players continue to reinforce their zero-tolerance stance on racism in football, with governing bodies encouraging fans to report abuse and stand in solidarity with those affected.
LAFIA, Nasarawa State (BN24) — The Nasarawa State Police Command, Nigeria, has arrested a suspected kidnapper and recovered N6.9 million in cash alongside sophisticated firearms following a lone vehicle crash in Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area. The incident unfolded Monday morning, August 18, 2025, according to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel.
At approximately 9 a.m., officers from the Garaku Police Division responded to a distress call from Angwan Mayo community about a lone crash involving an Opel Vectra with registration number Plateau BLD 566 ST near the Vehicle Inspection Office checkpoint. Two occupants fled the scene immediately after the crash. However, a vigilant Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) retrieved a G3 rifle and some cash from the vehicle and handed them over to the police.
A subsequent search of the towed vehicle at the police station uncovered one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and the large sum of N6.9 million in cash. Following the discovery, the police, in collaboration with the military, launched a manhunt that led to the arrest of Mohammed Tahir, a resident of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.
During interrogation, Tahir confessed to being a member of a seven-person kidnap gang responsible for abducting a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, where a ransom was paid. He disclosed that he and an accomplice were en route to Jos to divide the ransom proceeds when the accident occurred.
Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing. The arrested individual and recovered items have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro-Mohammed.
The police spokesperson reassured the public of the command’s commitment to working with other security agencies to eradicate crime in Nasarawa State and its environs. He also commended the vigilance of community members and urged sustained collaboration to ensure safety.
LOS ANGELES (BN240 — Federal immigration agents raided an underground nightclub in El Monte, California, arresting nine people living in the U.S. illegally and seizing drugs and thousands of fraudulent gift cards tied to an international financial scheme, authorities said.
The operation, carried out July 19 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, targeted what officials described as a hub for Asian organized crime in Southern California.
Agents executed a federal search warrant and detained 66 individuals at the nightclub. Nine were determined to be in the country illegally — seven from China, one from Malaysia and one from Mexico — and are now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
In addition to the arrests, agents confiscated narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and a box filled with thousands of re-encoded gift cards that investigators believe were linked to money laundering and fraud.
“The HSI El Camino Real Task Force is unwavering in its commitment to dismantling illegal operations, as exemplified by our recent execution of a search warrant on an underground nightclub operated by Asian organized crime,” said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Al Rossi.
Since March, investigators have been tracking Asian organized crime groups suspected of extorting warehouse-based nightclubs in the Los Angeles region. Officials say these clubs serve as venues for smuggling and money laundering, as well as distribution points for drugs including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy.
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies, including the DEA, FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Authorities say the case remains active as they continue to pursue the criminal networks behind the nightclub operations.
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (BN24) — New York social media influencer Ariela La Langosta, a close friend of controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine who appeared in his 2023 music video, was found dead in her vehicle on a Westchester County parkway Sunday morning, authorities said. She was 33.
Ariela Mejia-Polanco, 33, who has addresses in Westchester and Rockland counties, was found deceased about 8 a.m. behind the wheel of her car on the eastbound Cross County Parkway near the Broad Street exit in Mount Vernon, the Westchester County Police Department announced Monday.
The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Mejia-Polanco died from gunshot wounds, and investigators have determined her death was not a random act of violence, police said in a statement posted on the department’s Facebook page.
Police described the killing as a targeted attack, stating that preliminary investigation indicated the Dominican content creator was “likely targeted for violence.” The homicide remains under active investigation by detectives from the General Investigations Unit, with assistance from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
“Due to that ongoing investigation, additional details are not being disclosed at this time,” the police statement concluded.
The social media personality, who went by the moniker La Langosta, had amassed more than 566,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly shared fashion and modeling content. She gained wider recognition through her association with Tekashi 6ix9ine, appearing in his “Wapae” music video released in 2023.
The Brooklyn-born rapper, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, took to his Instagram Story Sunday night to pay tribute to his longtime friend, calling her a “tremendous woman” and the “queen of New York” in a series of emotional videos.
“You supported me in everything,” the rapper wrote in his tribute, which was accompanied by a snippet of Aventura’s early 2000s hit “Obsesión.” He added in both English and Spanish: “My sister. NY won’t ever be the same. I loved you.”
Mejia-Polanco’s death has sent ripples through New York’s nightlife and social media communities, where she was a well-known figure. Ikon New York in Inwood, where she worked, announced it would temporarily close its doors “out of respect for one of our beloved team members.”
“Today we lost our shining star,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram Sunday. “Our hearts are broken. Your joy, your humility, and the way you treated everyone with so much care always made you stand out.”
The establishment described Mejia-Polanco as “a brilliant, humble soul with incredible energy — the kind of person who could light up any room she entered.”
Queens-based lounge Starlet of NY also honored the model, with staff members expressing they were “deeply saddened by the loss.”
“She was a one-of-a-kind soul — a beautiful friend, loving mother, and daughter whose smile and energy lit up every room she entered,” the nightclub wrote on Instagram. “Her energy will forever be missed, but her spirit will always live on with us.”
The investigation into Mejia-Polanco’s death continues as authorities work to identify suspects and determine the motive behind the targeted killing. Police have not released information about potential suspects or whether any arrests have been made.
The Cross County Parkway, where Mejia-Polanco was discovered, is a major east-west highway that connects the Bronx River Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway, serving as a key thoroughfare for commuters traveling through Westchester County.
Geneva (BN24) – Switzerland announced Tuesday it would not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he travel to the country for potential peace talks with Ukraine, despite an outstanding International Criminal Court warrant accusing him of war crimes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the Alpine nation would grant Putin immunity if he came to Geneva to attend a “peace conference,” citing Switzerland’s neutral role and Geneva’s status as the European headquarters of the United Nations.
The statement came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump held intensive discussions with European leaders at the White House, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Trump phoned Putin and proposed a summit to push for a negotiated end to the war. Trump later claimed on Truth Social that he had begun organizing such a meeting, though he offered few details.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani both suggested Geneva as the most suitable venue for the summit. Cassis added that Switzerland had already “clarified the legal situation” and could host such a gathering despite the ICC warrant, underscoring that “it naturally depends on the will of the major powers.”
Still, the Kremlin has not committed to the idea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that any direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy would require careful preparation, signaling Moscow’s reluctance.
Trump reiterated on Fox News that he had “sort of set up” the potential summit, but Putin has yet to indicate whether he would attend.
