BALTIMORE (BN24) — A neighborhood crab feast in northwest Baltimore turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy Saturday night when a gunman opened fire, killing a 38-year-old man and injuring five others, including a young girl, authorities said.
Police said the shooting erupted just before 8:50 p.m. near the intersection of Spaulding and Queensberry Avenues, where residents had gathered outdoors for the summer tradition. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters that multiple rounds were fired into the crowd without warning.
The 38-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead. A 5-year-old girl was shot in the hand and is expected to recover, Worley said. The other victims — a 23-year-old woman and three men aged 32, 33 and 52 — were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators have not identified a suspect or established a motive. “It looks like they were simply outside enjoying themselves, eating crabs, and somebody just opened fire,” Worley said.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, either directly or through Metro Crime Stoppers, as the search for the shooter continues.
LONDON (BN24) — Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has publicly criticized UEFA over its tribute to former Palestinian footballer Mohammed Barakat al Obeid, widely known as the “Palestinian Pele,” for omitting reports that he was killed in Gaza by what Palestinian officials say was an Israeli airstrike targeting civilians.
In a brief post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, the European football governing body described al Obeid as “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.” The statement did not mention the reported circumstances of his death.
Salah, one of the Premier League’s highest-profile players and a global sports figure, responded directly on X: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
UEFA confirmed to Sky Sports that it will not comment on Salah’s remarks.
Al Obeid, a former Palestine national team member, was born in Gaza City and played for clubs in both Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). The PFA said he is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Palestinian sports officials say al Obeid died earlier this week in Gaza during an airstrike. Israeli authorities have not commented on the specific incident. The conflict in Gaza has entered its second year, with intense fighting and widespread humanitarian concerns.
Salah, an Egyptian international and devout Muslim, has previously used his platform to advocate for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. He has voiced concern for civilians caught in the conflict and called for an end to the violence.
The United Nations reports that more than 1,000 people have been killed near aid distribution points and convoys in Gaza since the launch of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system — in late May.
The PFA tribute described al Obeid as an inspiration for young athletes in Palestine, noting his significant impact on football in the region.
LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Lagos-based pastor, Adefolusho Aanu Olasele—also known as Abbas Ajakaiye—over his alleged involvement in multiple drug trafficking operations between Ghana and Nigeria. Olasele, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, following months of evading arrest.
According to a statement released by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the agency had linked Olasele to two major seizures of cannabis, locally known as “Ghana Loud.” Officers waited outside the church for hours during Sunday worship before arresting him as he exited the premises.
Olasele had reportedly fled to Ghana in June to avoid capture after two large drug consignments—200kg seized at Okun Ajah Beach on June 4 and 700kg recovered from a delivery van on July 6—were traced back to him. Both seizures involved high-grade psychoactive cannabis, believed to have been transported across international waters.
“In his statement, he admitted ferrying the illicit consignments through the waterways from Ghana into Nigeria,” Babafemi said. “He had fled to a West African country to hide after he escaped arrest twice.”
The arrest of the cleric comes amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on narcotics. In a separate raid on Thursday, August 7, NDLEA operatives stormed an apartment in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, arresting a suspect identified as Benjamin Ukoh and seizing 32 pouches of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 15.63 kilograms.
Similar operations unfolded across the country. In Nasarawa State, three suspects—Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny, 51; Okem Raphael, 33; and Chekwube Odo, 25—were arrested in New Karu with 3,093 kilograms of skunk, another potent strain of cannabis. In Kano, NDLEA officers seized 359kg of skunk from 29-year-old Nura Yahaya on August 8. They arrested 27-year-old Umar Adamu Umar on August 6 along the Zaria-Kano highway with 9kg of synthetic cannabis, Colorado.
In Gombe State, a raid on an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami on August 8 led to the recovery of over half a million opioid pills and the arrest of suspect Usama Isah. A separate arrest the following day saw 23-year-old Ibrahim Adamu caught along Potiskum Road in possession of 50,000 capsules of tramadol.
Edo State operatives intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus traveling from Onitsha to Kogi at Ewu Junction on August 6. The search revealed 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine, a synthetic opioid. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was taken into custody.
Reacting to the nationwide operations, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retired) commended the agency’s operatives and urged personnel to maintain a strategic and balanced approach in executing drug control missions across the country.
The arrest of a religious leader at the center of a transnational drug smuggling operation has added a new layer to the NDLEA’s ongoing war against narcotics, highlighting the growing complexities and reach of organized trafficking networks operating across West Africa.
BANGKOK, Thailand (BN24) — Three Thai soldiers were injured Saturday by a landmine explosion while patrolling a disputed border area near Cambodia, underscoring the fragile nature of a ceasefire reached just days earlier between the Southeast Asian neighbours following their worst conflict in over a decade.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces confirmed the soldiers were on patrol between Thailand’s Sisaket province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear when one stepped on a mine, detonating the device. One soldier lost a foot, another suffered serious leg and arm injuries, and a third sustained ear trauma from the blast’s pressure.
There was no immediate response from Cambodia’s defense ministry regarding the incident.
The explosion is the third such mine-related injury to Thai forces in recent weeks and comes amid escalating tensions despite a recently signed ceasefire. Similar incidents on July 16 and July 23, which Thai officials blame on landmines planted by Cambodian forces, led to a sharp downturn in diplomatic relations and triggered five days of armed conflict that resulted in at least 43 deaths.
From July 24 to July 28, Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged artillery fire, engaged in infantry skirmishes, and launched air strikes in what became the bloodiest border confrontation between the two countries in more than 10 years. The fighting only ceased after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened, warning both governments that future trade agreements would be suspended if hostilities continued.
On Thursday, military officials from both countries concluded a tense round of talks in Kuala Lumpur, where they agreed to extend the ceasefire and allow monitors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to observe the border and help prevent further clashes.
Thai authorities maintain that Cambodia recently planted new landmines on Thai territory, a charge Phnom Penh denies. Cambodian officials insist no new mines have been laid and that Thai patrols may have strayed from designated routes into areas contaminated with mines left over from Cambodia’s decades-long internal conflicts.
The border region, particularly around the Preah Vihear temple complex, has long been a flashpoint in Thai-Cambodian relations, with sovereignty disputes inflaming nationalist sentiment on both sides.
Saturday’s incident casts a shadow over hopes that the ceasefire agreement and ASEAN involvement would stabilize the area. It also raises concerns over the lasting danger posed by unexploded ordnance and the risk of renewed violence.
As border patrols continue and diplomatic tensions simmer, regional observers warn that maintaining peace will require not only restraint on the ground but renewed political commitment to resolving long-standing territorial disputes through dialogue.
ILE-IFE, Nigeria (BN24) — The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeriahas issued an urgent appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of a missing female student, Dorcas Oseghale, who has not been seen since the evening of Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, Oseghale, a student in the Department of Chemistry with matriculation number CHM/2021/165, was last seen at approximately 8:00 p.m. after leaving her residence at Adesanmi House, Ibadan Road, to buy food near the students’ village along Ede Road—just outside the university campus.
“When Dorcas failed to return on time, her roommate attempted to reach her through her mobile phones, only to discover that both lines were switched off and unreachable,” the statement said.
Initial concerns began circulating on student social media platforms by 3:00 p.m. on August 7, prompting the university’s security unit to begin monitoring online discussions surrounding her disappearance. By 6:10 p.m. that same day, a formal report was filed at the university’s security post by a group of Chemistry students, along with her roommate, Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice, a student in the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Given the gravity of the situation and the limitations in resources, the university security team assigned three personnel to work with the students while escalating the matter to the Nigerian Police Force, which is now leading the investigation. The authorities are expected to deploy broader technical and investigative resources to uncover the circumstances behind Oseghale’s disappearance.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, has praised the student community for their swift response and vigilance. He also issued a heartfelt plea to the police and other security agencies to intensify efforts in locating the missing student.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of Miss Dorcas Oseghale,” Professor Bamire stated. “We urge anyone with credible information that could aid in finding her to come forward immediately by contacting the nearest police station or the university’s security unit.”
The case has heightened anxiety within the OAU community and renewed calls for enhanced student safety, particularly in off-campus areas often frequented by students.
TOKYO (BN24) — Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa has died from a brain injury sustained during a bout earlier this month, becoming the second fighter to die from the same Tokyo boxing event, officials confirmed Saturday.
Urakawa, 28, was knocked out in the eighth round of his match against Yoji Saito on August 2 at Korakuen Hall. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma—a serious condition involving bleeding between the skull and brain—but succumbed to his injuries six days later.
His death follows that of fellow Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari, who died just one day earlier, on Friday, from similar injuries sustained in a separate fight on the same card. Kotari had also undergone surgery for a subdural hematoma but did not recover.
The two deaths have sent shockwaves through the boxing world and prompted immediate policy changes in Japan. The Japan Boxing Commission announced that all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights will be reduced from 12 rounds to 10 in response to the twin tragedies.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) issued a statement mourning the loss of Urakawa. “This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari,” the organization said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Urakawa is the third professional boxer to die from fight-related brain injuries in 2025. In February, Irish fighter John Cooney died at the age of 28 following an intracranial hemorrhage sustained during a bout with Welsh opponent Nathan Howells in Belfast.
The back-to-back fatalities in Tokyo have intensified global scrutiny on fighter safety, particularly regarding the detection and treatment of traumatic brain injuries in real-time during matches. Medical professionals and athletic commissions are calling for stricter pre-fight screenings, faster in-ring medical assessments, and better enforcement of safety regulations.
As investigations continue and tributes pour in, the Japanese boxing community is grappling with the aftermath of a tragic event that has already left a lasting mark on the sport’s future in the region. Promoters, trainers, and regulators are expected to convene in the coming weeks to discuss additional safety reforms, with the hope of preventing further loss of life in the ring.
NEW YORK (BN24) — A 17-year-old has been taken into custody in connection with a shooting in Times Square that left three people injured early Saturday, police said.
The incident happened around 1:20 a.m. near 44th Street and Seventh Avenue after the teen allegedly became involved in a dispute with a 19-year-old, according to the New York Police Department. Moments later, three shots were fired.
Authorities said the victims include a 19-year-old man shot in the right foot, a 65-year-old man wounded in the left leg, and an 18-year-old woman grazed in the neck. All three were taken to Bellevue Hospital and remain in stable condition.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the dispute or whether the suspect and victims knew each other. The firearm used in the shooting was recovered at the scene.
Charges against the teen are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing.
ATLANTA (BN24) — A Georgia man who opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus Friday, killing a police officer and firing dozens of rounds into four buildings, had blamed a Covid-19 vaccine for causing his depression and suicidal thoughts, a law enforcement official said Saturday.
Patrick Joseph White, 30, was identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as the gunman who attempted to enter CDC headquarters before being stopped by security guards and subsequently driving across the street to a CVS pharmacy where he continued his deadly assault. White died during Friday’s violence.
The shooting claimed the life of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, a husband and father of two daughters with a son on the way. Rose, who joined the police force in September after serving in the U.S. Marines, responded to reports of gunfire near the CDC campus and was later pronounced dead at Emory University Hospital.
A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that White’s father had contacted police, explaining that his son was upset about his dog’s death and had become fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine. One of White’s neighbors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he “very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people.”
The attack began shortly before 5 p.m. Friday when White, wearing a surgical mask and armed with two handguns, a rifle, and a shotgun, opened fire on the CDC campus near Emory University. Officials said he was carrying two backpacks filled with ammunition during the assault.
White was found dead on the second floor of the pharmacy building after the shooting concluded. Authorities have not disclosed whether he was killed by police gunfire or took his own life during the confrontation.
CDC Director Susan Monarez confirmed that at least four buildings at the public health agency sustained damage from the gunfire. Crime scene investigators later discovered more than 40 bullet holes across multiple CDC buildings, with Building 21, which houses the director’s office, receiving much of the gunfire.
“The active shooter incident near our campus today has understandably brought fear, anger and worry to all of us,” Monarez said in a message to CDC employees. “I want to express my deep appreciation for your professionalism and resilience during this time.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted condolences online Saturday, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family.”
However, Kennedy’s expression of sympathy drew sharp criticism from a group of former CDC employees who were terminated by the Trump administration. The group, called Fired but Fighting, rejected Kennedy’s statement and accused him of contributing to the hostile climate that led to the attack.
“Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC’s workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust,” the group said in a statement. “We don’t need thoughts and prayers. We need an administration that does not villainize federal workers who are just trying to do their job.”
Kennedy, an avowed vaccine skeptic, recently ordered budget cuts for mRNA vaccine development and directed the termination of 22 vaccine development investments through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. He claimed the vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like Covid and flu,” despite scientific evidence that Covid vaccines have saved millions of lives.
Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said his department received the active shooter call at approximately 4:50 p.m. and arrived to find Rose critically injured. DeKalb County Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick described Rose as someone who “was committed to serving the community” and requested prayers for his family and the police department.
FBI Director Kash Patel called Rose a hero who “made the ultimate sacrifice,” writing on social media, “Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Neighbors described White as having appeared “noticeably” slimmer recently and being vocally opposed to vaccines, though they characterized him as generally “pleasant” and not typically political. Atlanta’s 11 Alive reported that White’s father had alerted law enforcement before the shooting that he believed his son was suicidal.
The attack occurred amid rising threats against healthcare professionals nationwide. A recent survey by National Nurses United found that 48 percent of more than 2,000 responding nurses reported increased workplace violence.
The incident follows the December assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street. Suspect Luigi Mangione, who is awaiting trial, reportedly left evidence suggesting anger toward the health insurance industry motivated the killing.
The CDC shooting highlights the dangerous intersection of vaccine misinformation and violence against public health institutions, occurring at a time when federal health agencies face increasing scrutiny and hostility from vaccine skeptics and conspiracy theorists.
NEW YORK (BN24) — Three people were wounded in an early-morning shooting at New York City’s Times Square on Saturday, police said, prompting a swift response in one of the world’s busiest public spaces.
The New York Police Department said the gunfire erupted at around 1:20 a.m., injuring three people whose conditions are not life-threatening. One individual is in custody and being questioned, though no charges have yet been filed.
Video posted on social media showed chaotic scenes as panicked bystanders fled, officers surrounded a vehicle, and police attended to victims lying on the pavement. Several of the injured were hospitalized.
Authorities have not released details about the circumstances leading to the shooting.
The incident comes as New York City experiences its lowest number of shootings in decades, with gun violence down 23% compared with the same period last year. Firearms are banned in Times Square and other designated “sensitive locations” under state law, a restriction the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn in April.
London (BN24) – London’s Metropolitan Police arrested more than 466 people during a large protest on Saturday opposing Britain’s ban on the activist group Palestine Action, authorities said.
The demonstration, which took place in Parliament Square near the Houses of Parliament, drew hundreds of protesters wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyehs and waving flags. Many chanted “hands off Gaza” and carried placards reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” according to Reuters footage from the scene. Police were seen carrying away demonstrators as the crowd shouted “shame on you” at officers.
Parliament banned Palestine Action in July under anti-terrorism legislation, following a series of high-profile protests in which members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged military aircraft. The group accuses the UK government of enabling what it calls Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Israel has been accused of genocide by human rights organizations and at the International Court of Justice over its military campaign in Gaza, which began after a deadly October 2023 Hamas attack. Israel rejects the allegations, saying its actions are self-defense.
In a post on X, police confirmed that 466 people were detained for supporting a proscribed organization. An additional eight were arrested for unrelated offenses, including five for assaulting officers. No serious injuries were reported.
Under the ban, membership in Palestine Action is a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, recently secured court approval to challenge the government’s decision to outlaw the organization.
