Somalia (Security threat level – 5): At approximately 1430 local time (1130 UTC) on 29 October 2022, members of the al-Shabab militant group conducted an attack on the Ministry of Education headquarters at Zobe junction in the capital Mogadishu. The attackers detonated two car bombs outside the ministry before storming the building. Security personnel exchanged gunfire with the militants inside the building and cordoned off several adjacent streets. At least 100 people were killed in the attack and 300 more were injured — most of them civilians.
No government officials were present at the building at the time; however, the attack corresponded with a government conference regarding an al-Shabab counterinsurgency taking place at a separate location in Mogadishu. The attack — along with the murders of prominent clan leaders elsewhere in Somalia — was likely in retaliation for an offensive by the Somali government and attempts by government entities to shut down al-Shabab’s financial network.
India (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 1830 local time (1300 UTC) on 30 October 2022, a suspension bridge collapsed and plunged hundreds of pedestrians into the Machchhu river in Morbi district of the western Gujarat state. Nearly 300-400 people were traversing the bridge when it gave way. According to local authorities, at least 134 people were killed, and about 100 others were rescued and transferred to nearby hospitals. The colonial-era bridge had recently undergone a seven-month-long renovation before reopening on 26 October prior to the Diwali holiday. Authorities have stated that the collapse may have been related to an excessive number of pedestrians crossing the bridge at the same time. A special investigative committee has been formed to launch a probe and determine the cause of the bridge collapse.
Russia / Ukraine (Security threat levels – 4 / 5): On the morning of 31 October 2022, the Russian military launched a barrage of missiles targeting several Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv. Three explosions were reported in Kyiv after missiles struck a major energy facility that supplies power to more than 350,000 customers. The missile attacks disrupted water supply and transportation services in parts of the capital city. The airstrikes also targeted the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, as well as the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Vinnytsia regions. Ukrainian officials claim that Russia launched 50 cruise missiles targeting critical infrastructure facilities throughout Ukraine, resulting in major power outages nationwide. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The attacks occurred after Russian officials accused the Ukrainian military of carrying out a drone attack against a Russian warship near the city of Sevastopol on 29 October.
South Korea (Security threat level – 2): On the night of 29 October 2022, a stampede occurred during a Halloween celebration in an alleyway near the Hamilton Hotel in the Itaewon district of central Seoul. At least 800 emergency response personnel were dispatched to the area to administer life-saving aid and transport the injured to local hospitals. At least 153 people died and more than 150 others were injured in the stampede. Authorities stated that about 20 foreign nationals were among the dead while 15 others were reported injured. The cause of the stampede remains unknown; however, initial reports indicate that the crowd began to surge following reports of a celebrity visiting a nearby location.
Haiti (Security threat level – 5): On 28 October 2022, suspected gang members assassinated Haitian politician Eric-Jean Baptiste while he was traveling to his residence located in the Laboule 12 area of the capital Port-au-Prince. The attackers opened fire on Baptiste’s vehicle, killing him and a security guard. Baptiste was the leader of the Rally of Progressive National Democrats Party and a former presidential candidate. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Ti Malak gang controls the Laboule 12 area and has been accused of committing assassinations in the area.
France (Security threat level – 3): On 29 October 2022, thousands of demonstrators clashed with police officers at the future site of a water reservoir in Sainte-Soline, located in the Deux-Sèvres department. Approximately 1,400 police officers were deployed to the site in anticipation of demonstrations against the reservoir construction. Demonstrators attempted to force their way into the construction site, resulting in clashes with police officers who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Approximately 30 demonstrators and 61 police officers were injured in the violence.
Brazil (Security threat level – 3): Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the second round of the presidential election held on 30 October 2022. According to the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court, Lula garnered 50.9% of the vote to secure victory against incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, who received 49.1% of the vote. Following the announcement, thousands of Lula’s supporters gathered in multiple cities, including central Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate his victory. Lula’s Inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place on 1 January 2023. Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat and has previously made unsubstantiated claims of possible electoral fraud. Demonstrations against Lula’s victory are possible across the country.
Philippines (Security threat level – 4): As of 31 October 2022, Tropical Storm Nalgae has caused widespread damage and casualties throughout the Philippines after making landfall five times, affecting 1.8 million people in the southern, central and northern areas of the country. Officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (RPLL/MNL) in Manila shut down the runways at the facility for several hours on 29 October due to the storm. More than 100 domestic and internationals flights were canceled. An additional 157 flights were canceled on 30 October. The heavy rainfall inundated streets, highways and bridges, and downed trees and powerlines were reported across the region. The storm damaged nearly 4,200 homes. Officials announced that 101 people were killed, and 69 more were injured due to the effects of Nalgae. The southern autonomous region of Bangsamoro was most affected by the storm, accounting for 53 deaths due to floods and landslides. At least 63 people remain missing.
We use cookies on this website to improve functionality and performance, to analyze traffic, and to enable social media features. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.