US man linked to Wieambilla shooters sentenced to three years in prison
Donald Day discussed extreme conspiracies with Queensland family before they killed two police officers and a neighbour at rural property Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast An American man who spent a year discussing extreme conspiracies with the Queensland family behind the Wieambilla shootings has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Donald Day, 58, was arrested in the US after a year-long investigation into his contact with Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train before the trio killed two police officers and a neighbour at their rural Queensland property. Continue reading...
Large migrant smuggling operation in Bulgaria leads to 16 arrests
A Bulgarian-led investigation, carried out in close cooperation with the Hellenic Police and supported by Europol, has led to the dismantlement of an organised criminal network involved in smuggling of migrants from Türkiye via Bulgaria and onward through Serbia or Romania towards Western European countries. The investigation was conducted within the framework of a regional Operational Taskforce established to target migrant smuggling networks using Bulgaria as a transit country.
Europol supports French investigation into alleged criminal activity linked to platform X
The investigation is conducted by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office with the support of the French Gendarmerie’s cybercrime unit (UNCyber) and Europol.On the action day, French authorities carried out investigative measures in the offices of the platform in France. Europol supported the investigation through its European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), providing specialised cybercrime expertise and deploying an analyst on the ground...
Drug trafficking network supplying cocaine to Iceland dismantled
A criminal network involved in cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe has been dismantled following a coordinated investigation by authorities in Iceland, Lithuania and Spain, with the support of Europol and Eurojust. The group is believed to have generated EUR 4 million in criminal profits through the large-scale trafficking of illicit substances.
California Investigates Why Most of the Eaton Fire Victims Were Black
The state’s attorney general opened an investigation into whether emergency responders failed to adequately warn the residents of a Black middle-class neighborhood that was devastated in the blaze.
Democratic lawmakers say the Justice Department failed to engage Epstein’s victims, as survivors tell Congress they were never contacted. Questions are mounting over how the case has been handled and whether key evidence is being fully pursued. - facebook.com
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the Justice Department for not adequately engaging with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, as survivors report they were never contacted. This has raised concerns about the handling of the case and the pursuit of key evidence.
California Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into L.A. Eaton Fire Response
The state’s attorney general will examine whether emergency responders failed to adequately warn the residents of West Altadena, a Black middle-class neighborhood that was devastated in a 2025 blaze.
Investigators return to Nancy Guthrie’s house.
Investigators have returned to the residence of Nancy Guthrie as the search for her continues into its twelfth day. The ongoing investigation aims to gather more information regarding her disappearance.
'My son is dead': Swiss bar owners confronted by fire victim families
Jessica and Jacques Moretti are under criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, as well as bodily harm and arson through negligence.
Five Shots in Five Minutes: Analysing One Federal Agent’s Use of Less-Lethal Launcher in Minneapolis
This investigation is part of a collaboration between Bellingcat and Evident Media. You can watch Evident’s video here. The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 sparked nationwide protests, with often violent clashes breaking out between protesters and federal agents. Some of […] The post Five Shots in Five Minutes: Analysing One Federal Agent’s Use of Less-Lethal Launcher in Minneapolis appeared first on bellingcat.
Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting
To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here On January 24, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was shot and killed by federal agents on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The shooting comes just over two weeks after Renee […] The post Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting appeared first on bellingcat.
Inside the Strike: The US Munition That Hit a Residential Building in Venezuela
A Bellingcat investigation has identified remnants of an AGM-88 series missile inside a three-storey apartment complex that was hit in Catia La Mar during the US military raid on Venezuela on Jan. 3, 2026 that reportedly killed at least one civilian. According to the Venezuelan independent media outlet, El Pitazo, Rosa Gonzalez, 79, was killed […] The post Inside the Strike: The US Munition That Hit a Residential Building in Venezuela appeared first on bellingcat.
Tellico Plains police officer indicted in statutory rape investigation, TBI says - Local 3 News
Tellico Plains police officer indicted in statutory rape investigation, TBI says Local 3 News
iPhone Lockdown Mode Protects Washington Post Reporter
404Media is reporting that the FBI could not access a reporter’s iPhone because it had Lockdown Mode enabled: The court record shows what devices and data the FBI was able to ultimately access, and which devices it could not, after raiding the home of the reporter, Hannah Natanson, in January as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information. It also provides rare insight into the apparent effectiveness of Lockdown Mode, or at least how effective it might be before the FBI may try other techniques to access the device. “Because the iPhone was in Lockdown mode, CART could not extract that device,” the court record reads, referring to the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team, a unit focused on performing forensic analyses of seized devices. The document is written by the government, and is opposing the return of Natanson’s devices...
11 indicted in two-year federal, local investigation into Central Louisiana drug cartel operations - KALB
11 indicted in two-year federal, local investigation into Central Louisiana drug cartel operations KALB
Analysing Footage of Minneapolis ICE Shooting
To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here On Jan. 7 Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by a federal agent on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident was captured on several separate videos and spread rapidly on social media. The videos were soon […] The post Analysing Footage of Minneapolis ICE Shooting appeared first on bellingcat.
Authorities Intercept Millions in Fake Banknotes and Coins Across Europe, US
<p>Europol <a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/eur-12-billion-in-counterfeit-cash-stopped-in-postal-operation">said</a> Wednesday that authorities from 18 countries seized an estimated 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) in counterfeit currency in a six-month operation targeting criminal networks that distributed fake banknotes and coins through postal services.</p><p>The operation, led by Austria, Portugal and Spain and carried out between June and November 2025, intercepted more than seven million counterfeit items, including 4.8 million euros, $2.3 million, 23,302 pounds and 4,800 Swiss francs. More than 90 percent of the fake currency originated in China, the agency said.</p><p>Romanian officials alone seized over 4.8 million altered-design euro banknotes and dismantled a storage site holding more than 223,000 counterfeit notes, while additional actions in Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States uncovered more than 220,000 fake coins in multiple currencies.</p><p>The coordinated crackdown, involving customs and police agencies across Europe and the U.S., has triggered 70 new investigations, Europol added.</p>
Nearly half of powerful .50-caliber ammo seized by Mexican government came from US Army plant, defense minister says
Mexican officials shared the data in response to an investigation by ICIJ and media partners.
Made in the USA: How American-Built Weapons Have Wrought Destruction in Gaza
To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here On the night of Jan. 7 this year, three 250-pound bombs smashed into an apartment block in the Al Tuffah neighbourhood of northern Gaza. Footage of the aftermath shows walls collapsed, rubble piled up and blackened household items scattered across the scene. […] The post Made in the USA: How American-Built Weapons Have Wrought Destruction in Gaza appeared first on bellingcat.
Identifying ‘Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used By DHS Agents in US Immigration Raids and Protests
To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here. Federal agents have frequently used so-called “less-lethal” weapons against protesters, including impact projectiles, tear gas and pepper spray, since the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration raids began last year. The use of less-lethal weapons (LLWs) has been controversial. While designed to incapacitate or […] The post Identifying ‘Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used By DHS Agents in US Immigration Raids and Protests appeared first on bellingcat.
A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the fight to make the government's files public - PBS
Der Artikel bietet eine chronologische Übersicht über die Ermittlungen gegen Jeffrey Epstein und die Bemühungen, die Regierungsunterlagen öffentlich zugänglich zu machen. Es werden wichtige Ereignisse und Wendepunkte in der Geschichte des Falls dargestellt.
FBI searched Fulton County offices in probe of possible 2020 election 'defects,' affidavit says - PBS
The FBI conducted a search of Fulton County offices as part of an investigation into potential irregularities related to the 2020 election, according to an affidavit. The investigation aims to uncover any defects that may have occurred during the election process.
Trump Reportedly Called Police About Epstein In 2006, Said Ghislaine Maxwell Was ‘Evil’ - Forbes
In 2006, Donald Trump reportedly contacted the police regarding Jeffrey Epstein and described Ghislaine Maxwell as 'evil'. This incident highlights Trump's awareness of the controversial figures involved in Epstein's circle during that time.
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Mastering International Investigations: A Field Guide for OSINT Practitioners
Open-source investigations don’t stop at borders. Whether you're tracing fraudsters in Toronto or uncovering shell companies in Southeast Asia, successful international investigations demand more than just curiosity. They require adaptability to varying naming conventions, language barriers, geographic differences that show broad differences across cultures.
Former Nigerian oil minister stands trial in the UK on bribery charges
Prosecutors accused former minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who featured in the ICIJ-led Panama Papers investigation, of living a “life of luxury in London” fueled by corrupt Nigerian oil deals.
What’s Coming to OSINT Live 2025
Each year, Skopenow’s OSINT Live gathers the leading minds in open-source intelligence to convey actionable tradecraft, proven workflows, and forward-looking strategies. Thousands of professionals from across government, corporate security, law enforcement, and more attend to learn how to sharpen their investigations and make smarter decisions.
A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the fight to make the government's files public - PBS
A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the fight to make the government's files public PBS
Beijing’s backtrack on Xinjiang detention camps spurred by ICIJ investigation, research finds
Academic research shows that investigative reporting, NGO advocacy, and scholarly scrutiny pushed Chinese authorities from denial to dismantling parts of their mass detention system for Uyghurs.
Investigation reveals how Chinese firms blindsided Malawian government over strategic mine ownership
Malawi’s government has promised a “fact-finding exercise” as the local community grows increasingly resentful of the mining venture’s unfulfilled development promises.
New EU report urges more aggressive action against transnational repression
The report cites ICIJ’s China Targets investigation and calls for improved coordination across the bloc.
Auditors at Bitpanda’s German subsidiary flagged information security issues, echoing regulator’s concerns
The crypto exchange said it had addressed authorities' concerns, but an internal report has cast doubt on those claims, according to a new investigation by ICIJ media partners.
Recapping the Top Five OSINT Videos of 2025 (And What They Mean for 2026)
The OSINT content that spread in 2025 shared one thing in common: a focus on rigorous investigations and carefully designed workflows that produce verifiable evidence. The most compelling videos of the year demonstrated how to turn messy public information into clear, defensible conclusions while navigating uncertainty and ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What was the outcome of the large migrant smuggling operation in Bulgaria?
The operation led to the arrest of 16 individuals.
Q:What role is Europol playing in the investigation related to platform X?
Europol is supporting the French investigation into alleged criminal activity linked to platform X.
Q:What was the result of the investigation into the drug trafficking network supplying cocaine to Iceland?
The drug trafficking network was successfully dismantled.
Q:What is the focus of the investigation into the Eaton Fire in California?
The investigation is examining why most of the Eaton Fire victims were Black.
Q:What prompted the civil rights investigation into the L.A. Eaton Fire response?
California launched the investigation to assess the response to the Eaton Fire.