5 things to know for June 3: Boulder attack, Oregon stabbing, Sudan, FEMA, Gun control
Context:
A violent attack occurred in Boulder, Colorado, where a man used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails on attendees of a Jewish community event, resulting in 12 injuries and the arrest of Mohamed Sabry Soliman on multiple charges, including attempted murder and federal hate crimes. In Salem, Oregon, a man named Tony Williams attacked individuals at a homeless shelter with a knife, injuring 12 people, with no known motive. Sudan is suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis caused by a civil war between two rival generals, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and a lack of essential resources for millions. FEMA's leadership has been replaced by Homeland Security officials with limited disaster management experience, raising concerns about their preparedness for the active hurricane season. The Supreme Court has decided not to hear challenges to gun control laws in Maryland and Rhode Island, allowing bans on certain semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines to remain in effect.
Dive Deeper:
In Boulder, Colorado, a Jewish community event was targeted by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, injuring 12 people. Soliman, who shouted 'Free Palestine' during the attack, has been charged with federal hate crimes and 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Tony Williams attacked people at a homeless shelter in Salem, Oregon, with an 8-inch knife, injuring 11 individuals inside and one more outside. The victims, all men aged 26 to 57, were taken to the hospital, and a motive for the attack remains unknown.
Sudan faces a dire humanitarian crisis due to a civil war between generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, causing ethnic violence, displacement, and severe shortages of basic necessities. Over 14 million people have been displaced, and the capital, Khartoum, is left in ruins.
FEMA is now led by officials from the Department of Homeland Security, including acting administrator David Richardson, who admitted to being previously unaware of the US hurricane season. This leadership change has raised concerns about the agency's ability to manage natural disasters effectively.
The US Supreme Court declined to hear challenges against Maryland's ban on certain semi-automatic weapons and Rhode Island's ban on high-capacity magazines. Conservative justices dissented but the laws, enacted following mass shootings, remain in place.