At least 91 people were killed yesterday in Norway after two coordinated attacks rocked the country—and police have now arrested and charged a self-identified right wing Christian fundamentalist with spearheading the deadly attacks. Anders Behring Breivik, 32, is accused of dressing up as a police officer, entering the youth camp on the island of Utoya, and then shooting at least 84 people, most of whom were teens between 14 and 18. “People were falling dead right in front of me. I ran through the campus to the tent area. I saw the gunman — two people started to talk to him and two seconds later they were both shot,” witness Adrian Pracon told the BBC. more ›

Among the juiciest details released after the successful US operation to kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last weekend was the mention that the military took hard drives from the compound—"10 hard drives, 5 computers and more than 100 storage devices which includes discs, DVDs and thumb drives." Investigators have been poring through those files, and have now revealed that Al Qaeda had been considering attacking the US rail system on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. more ›

The long-running dispute over payments to those sickened when by toxic dust and more while working during the recovery and cleanup effort at Ground Zero is over: 10,043 plaintiffs—which present 95% of the eligible plaintiffs—have agreed to accept a settlement worth at least $625 million compensation. This means their lawsuits against NYC and other contractors will be dismissed. more ›

One of the suspects in the brutal attacks on three men—allegedly prompted by their sexuality—made bail as another one was arrested. In the meantime, the alleged gang leader said in a jailhouse interview, "I don't have anything against homosexuals. I'm not a monster," and argued he couldn't be involved, since he recently got out of jail. more ›

Yesterday, the police announced that the eighth suspect in the brutal anti-gay attacks in the Bronx was arrested and released a photograph of the ninth and final suspect, Ruddy Vargas-Perez. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a press conference, "The seven individuals that we have in custody initially, there’s an eighth one now, have made statements, video confessions or statements concerning their acts involving this case, but I wouldn’t characterize it as remorse." In fact, the suspects, accused of harrowing acts of torture, are reportedly claiming they were intimidated into participating! more ›

Westchester County health officials confirmed that the "mangy" coyote who attacked a teenager and toddler in Rye Brook had rabies. After the attacks, a trapper following the coyote saw her eat her own pup's head and then a police officer killed the animal after it lunged at him. The grandfather of the 2-year-old girl who suffered scratches (and her father, who protected her, were treated for rabies) told the Journal News, "It's scary to know that this sick animal was roaming around the village. It's a good thing to know the animal was ultimately caught. Hopefully there aren't too many other rabid animals around, but you never know." more ›

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating five different attacks on Asian women in the Lower East Side. The victims are ages 50-71 and WCBS 2 reports, "Police say the five assaults on Asian women took place over the last ten days within a nine-block area right near the Williamsburg Bridge." more ›

Four men are wanted in connection with two attacks at the Butler Houses in the Bronx. On April 3, the group attacked a 45-year-old man in front of a building around 11 p.m.; they also robbed him. Then, on April 18, they struck again at 2:30 a.m.—and the assault was caught on camera. WABC 7 reports, "Police said two men were assaulted as they entered the building. A 43-year-old victim was struck in the head with a bottle, pushed into an elevator and robbed. He needed stitches to his head. The other victim, a 46-year-old man, was pushed to the ground in the hallway and robbed." One suspect has been identified as Tyrone Hines; police are asking people with additional information about him and the other suspects to contact CrimeStoppers (800-577-TIPS or online). more ›

Just last year around this time word was circulating amongst the rapidly gentrifying streets of Williamsburg that gang warfare and machete attacks were on the rise. While the police presence in the area was heightened, the violence continued throughout the summer—and now that spring is in the air once again, it seems the gangs are done hibernating for the winter. A reader sent us in a tip, saying things are heating up between the Pretty Boy Goonies and the Trinitarios on the Southside. The local reported back saying that the community was on edge after this past Sunday night around 7 p.m. "there was a pipe fight on Bedford around South 4th Street that sent a kid to the hospital." And on Monday night at 6 p.m. "at the pizza place on South Fourth and Bedford, a bunch of guys went into a restaurant and caned a kid while he was on the phone to his mother." Just three hours after that, on South 3rd and Bedford, "a guy was beaten with bottles and a window was broken out of the building behind him." This is what happens when weapons are sold with $1.25 slices! more ›

Police continue to maintain a heightened presence in the "Wild West Village" as they search for the two muggers responsible for a series of late night robberies and bloody attacks in the area over the last month. The only description of the pair is that they are "dark skinned," possibly so limited because they have been attacking their female victims from behind. Cops had originally said that the muggings were not part of a pattern, but now have confirmed that six are related. All have taken place between 11:30 pm and 2:45 am. more ›

Days after seven Columbia University students were attacked near campus, the police have announced four arrests. Surveillance cameras captured possible suspects who apparently struck at five different locations. According to WNBC, "the suspects as 16-year old DeShaun Busby, 16-year-old Quentin Cox, 17-year-old Lawrence Jones and 18-year-old Jan Germosen" and "all face charges of gang assault." The police are continuing to look for other suspects. more ›

The Columbia Spectator reported that Columbia University's Office of Public Safety issued an alert (though not all students received it) about seven students being assaulted on last Sunday night near campus: "Though the alert...offered no information about whether the assaults might be connected, it did provide some consistent detail. Each of the students was physically assaulted and reported 'being approached and/or surrounded by a group of five to seven' males in their twenties." One student was apparently robbed. The Daily News had the most thorough details on the attacks:

The brutality started at 12:13 a.m. at Amsterdam Ave. and W. 112th St. in Morningside Heights when the pack punched a 30-year-old man, giving him a black eye. more ›

Following a string of horrific attacks by pit bulls on civilians, one pit bull has actually turned hero. In an incident that occurred early Thursday morning, a stranger punched his way through the half-gated window of a young woman's bedroom in Rockland County--across the Hudson River and a few miles north from NYC. The assailant, apparently intent on raping the woman, climbed onto her bed and proceeded to punch her in the face several times. more ›