Nostr notes by Bellingcat

Latest: Two charities associated with the world’s largest ...

2026-10-06T16:21:47Z

Latest: Two charities associated with the world’s largest far-right Hindu group have raised more than US$24.4 million over a five-year period through US grants that allow the donor to be anonymous, Bellingcat can reveal: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/10/06/dafs-india-rss-donations/?utm_source=mastodon

The Toolkit, a curated collection of useful open source tools ...

2026-10-06T13:51:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…syq7
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The Toolkit, a curated collection of useful open source tools with independent reviews, has been in development for two years and has been visited by more than two million people.
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit
You can support the growth of the Toolkit here: https://www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

How do you know which open source tools to use? On Thursday, ...

2026-10-06T13:51:07Z

How do you know which open source tools to use? On Thursday, Toolkit Guardians Anisa Shabir and Martin Sona join us to talk about Bellingcat’s Toolkit.
We'll discuss tool selection, testing, and keeping investigative guidance accurate and impartial.
Live here on Thursday: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1556740775088361605

We are aware of an individual using a UK number on Telegram and ...

2026-10-05T16:03:31Z

We are aware of an individual using a UK number on Telegram and WhatsApp under the name “Antony Kevin” to seek assistance recruiting journalists and analysts working on Syria. They claim to work for Bellingcat, but do not. Please disregard requests from them and contact [contact@bellingcat.com].

Bellingcat was recognised for all of our work over the past year ...

2026-10-02T09:41:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…v8ll
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Bellingcat was recognised for all of our work over the past year with the General Excellence in Online Journalism award for a small newsroom. The team is incredibly proud of what we produced.

You can read all of our reporting on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/ (4)

The same series produced in partnership with ...

2026-10-02T09:41:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…984a
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The same series produced in partnership with [@CALMatters](https://flipboard.com/@CALMatters ) and Evident Media also won the award for Digital Video Storytelling, Series, Small/Medium Newsroom.
Watch our documentary, which follows a year of documented incidents involving the use of force, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evADOoRYa90 (3)

Our series with [@CALMatters](https://flipboard.com/@CALMatters ) ...

2026-10-02T09:40:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…qp5z
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Our series with [@CALMatters](https://flipboard.com/@CALMatters ) and Evident Media monitoring the actions of US border patrol agents won the Topical Reporting: Immigration Medium newsroom award. Read one of our articles in that series here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/17/border-patrol-agents-of-chaos/ (2)

We're pleased to announce that Bellingcat has won three ...

2026-10-02T09:39:41Z

We're pleased to announce that Bellingcat has won three awards at the Online Journalism Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees listed here: https://awards.journalists.org/2026/10/02/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-2026-online-journalism-awards/ (1)

Viral reports this week suggested new Google satellite imagery ...

2026-10-01T15:05:24Z

Viral reports this week suggested new Google satellite imagery showed unseen destruction in Gaza. But the imagery actually depicts the scene in February 2026. Bellingcat has obtained satellite images from September that show how the destruction has continued. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/10/01/viral-google-maps-images-shared-widely-this-week-show-gaza-ruins-we-obtained-more-recent-satellite-imagery/?utm_source=mastodon

Today we're celebrating the two year anniversary of ...

2026-09-24T11:07:38Z

Today we're celebrating the two year anniversary of Bellingcat's Online Open Source Investigation Toolkit. The resource that helps you discover and use open source tools is maintained by a group of amazing volunteers. If you've not explored it yet, you can find it here: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit

You can directly support the development of the Bellingcat Toolkit by donating here: www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

The lengthy wait for public records can be worth it. In our ...

2026-09-18T16:32:27Z

The lengthy wait for public records can be worth it.
In our latest Stage Talk episode, Bellingcat's Peter Barth discusses how filing public record requests fuelled his investigation into a 90s cold-case murder.
Listen back by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your preferred podcast provider: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3164735

Listened to the method and now interested in the story? Read Peter's investigation into the Boston case on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/us-canada/2026/08/31/investigating-a-murder-public-records-uncover-new-clues-in-chinatown-cold-case/?utm_source=linkedin

The recent escalation of Russian and Ukrainian attacks on Black ...

2026-09-11T10:37:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…e2g4
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The recent escalation of Russian and Ukrainian attacks on Black Sea ports and commercial vessels threatens to further disrupt grain exports from two of the world’s largest suppliers, contributing to a sharp increase in global grain prices. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/31/war-and-heat-why-are-wheat-prices-soaring

Olof Gill, EU Commission spokesperson for Trade & Economic ...

2026-09-11T10:37:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…qmtc
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Olof Gill, EU Commission spokesperson for Trade & Economic Security has called on EU member states Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to remove their bans on certain Ukrainian agricultural products, but so far no change has occurred.

A third option - exporting grain via inland ports on the Danube ...

2026-09-11T10:37:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…ajd4
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A third option - exporting grain via inland ports on the Danube River remains open. Far less grain can leave the country via this route and delays have occurred amid a shortage of personnel and critically low water levels. Satellite imagery shows a buildup of ships waiting near Danube river ports.

Ukraine is faced with few alternatives to export huge quantities ...

2026-09-11T10:36:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…ehhe
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Ukraine is faced with few alternatives to export huge quantities of grain during the peak of the harvest. Overland routes, via Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have been severely reduced by bans introduced by those countries designed to protect local agriculture industry.

It’s harvest season in Ukraine, but in the first two weeks of ...

2026-09-11T10:35:47Z

It’s harvest season in Ukraine, but in the first two weeks of August, Ukrainian grain exports were down 75% from the same period last year. Russia’s military blockade has effectively cut off Ukrainian ports from the Black Sea.🧵

Open source research methods are often seen associated with ...

2026-09-10T10:52:04Z

Open source research methods are often seen associated with conflict reporting, but these methods can also be applied to environmental journalism. Find out how we uncovered the identify of a wildlife trafficker that was selling protected species on Facebook: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/24/rhino-horn-leopard-skin-and-tiger-claws-sold-openly-on-facebook/

It can be a chore to sift through social media feeds to stay up ...

2026-08-07T09:07:42Z

It can be a chore to sift through social media feeds to stay up to date. Sign up to our new newsletter to receive the biggest Bellingcat investigations straight to your inbox as they're published.
https://bellingcat-investigations.beehiiv.com/

Our Colombian partner, Cerosetenta, was ordered by a judge to ...

2026-07-15T12:40:15Z

Our Colombian partner, Cerosetenta, was ordered by a judge to remove a joint investigation we published with them about a political candidate and his alleged links to members of an international neo-Nazi group in Bogota. Cerosetenta will now challenge that decision. https://cerosetenta.uniandes.edu.co/cerosetenta-acudira-a-la-corte-constitucional-tras-fallo-de-juez-que-le-ordena-eliminar-investigacion-sobre-presuntos-vinculos-de-candidato-con-una-red-neonazi

A video news agency supplying national press agencies across ...

2026-06-04T12:38:20Z

A video news agency supplying national press agencies across Africa, Asia and the Middle East appears to be sharing data, backend developer tools, IP addresses and SSL certificates with EU-sanctioned Russian propaganda outlet Russia Today. In key political regions for Russian interests, Viory has agreements with universities, newsrooms and some of the largest journalism bodies such as the African Union of Broadcasting. Read more on the links Bellingcat found here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/04/viory-ruptly-rt-russia-uae-propaganda-video-news/?utm_source=mastodon

Where reporting carries major safety risks, how can open-source ...

2026-05-22T13:40:06Z

Where reporting carries major safety risks, how can open-source analysis reveal what’s happening on the ground? In our next Stage Talk, Bellingcat researcher Pooja Chaudhuri shares how she monitors and verifies claims of violence in Myanmar. Join us live on Thursday: https://discord.gg/EjgxVKgv?event=1507374229585264760

Satellite imagery shows that at least 46 towns or villages in ...

2026-05-14T10:00:31Z

Satellite imagery shows that at least 46 towns or villages in southern Lebanon have been heavily damaged or, in some cases, entirely flattened by the Israeli Defence Forces. Bellingcat is publishing Planet satellite imagery for the entirety of the south of Lebanon. It shows that much of the demolition and destruction has taken place in recent weeks. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/05/14/satellite-imagery-shows-ongoing-demolitions-across-southern-lebanon/?utm_source=mstdn

Researcher Chu Yang joined us on this week's Stage Talk to ...

2026-05-01T13:44:21Z

Researcher Chu Yang joined us on this week's Stage Talk to examine China’s leading social media platforms, outlining how they operate and why they matter.

She also shared practical guidance on accessing these platforms from abroad, along with key resources for tracking trends across China and its global diaspora. Listen back by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on podcast platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2785287/

Looking to develop your investigative skills? Our latest ...

2026-04-10T09:53:23Z

Looking to develop your investigative skills?
Our latest challenges focus exclusively on audio analysis, without visual cues—an increasingly relevant skill in the context of AI-generated audio.
Explore the exercises here:
https://challenge.bellingcat.com/

As Iranian drones target the UAE, Bellingcat reveals a number of ...

2026-04-02T16:11:05Z

As Iranian drones target the UAE, Bellingcat reveals a number of instances where authorities downplayed damage and mischaracterised interceptions. Meanwhile the UAE’s attorney general warned that publication of images or videos of strikes is illegal. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/04/02/war-uae-iran-infuencer-dubai-conflict-drone-successful-strike-intercept-fire/

Videos of explosions have fueled misunderstanding and ...

2026-03-30T14:18:23Z

Videos of explosions have fueled misunderstanding and misinformation in the conflict between US, Israel and Iran, with munition types incorrectly identified amongst claims of “mystery” weapons. But what is an explosion and what can types of explosions really tell us? Bellingcat researcher Trevor Ball’s written a guide that explains explosives, their characteristics and the impact they have on people and infrastructure. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/30/explosive-misinformation-a-guide-to-mushroom-clouds-sonic-weapons-and-disintegration/?utm_source=mastodon

Two new videos have emerged showing the deadly strikes that hit ...

2026-03-27T21:54:38Z

Two new videos have emerged showing the deadly strikes that hit an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound, as well as an adjacent girls’ school, in Minab, Iran. By geolocating and verifying the footage, Bellingcat found two waves of attacks, occurring hours apart. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/27/new-videos-reveal-more-details-about-iran-girls-school-strike/?utm_source=mastodon

The US appears to have deployed the Gator Scatterable Mine system ...

2026-03-26T19:05:56Z

The US appears to have deployed the Gator Scatterable Mine system over Kafari, a village near Shiraz, in southern Iran overnight. At least two people were killed according to local reports. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/26/us-iran-mines-israel-village-missile-munitions-weapons-war-conflict/?utm_source=mastodon

Wildlife traffickers selling protected animals on Facebook use ...

2026-03-19T09:53:32Z

Wildlife traffickers selling protected animals on Facebook use coded language to evade moderation. Research by Bellingcat and Mongabay (npub1yaz…wke8) has identified nine groups, with more than 70,000 members combined, leading back to six profiles and one broker in Indonesia. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/19/how-wildlife-traffickers-are-using-coded-language-to-sell-protected-animals-on-facebook/?utm_source=mastodon

De Telegraaf, the Netherlands’ largest newspaper published an ...

2026-03-12T11:19:47Z

De Telegraaf, the Netherlands’ largest newspaper published an interview with a woman claiming to organise her own evacuation flights from Dubai, promoting seats at €1,600. Bellingcat found that the image in the interview was likely AI-generated, and flight-tracking data suggests no such plane took off.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/12/ai-used-to-promote-non-existent-evacuation-flights-from-the-middle-east/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat has geolocated eight videos showing US Tomahawks ...

2026-03-11T14:15:48Z

Bellingcat has geolocated eight videos showing US Tomahawks cruise missiles in Iraq heading towards Iran. The missiles appear to be flying low across valleys near Kirkuk and were likely fired from the Mediterranean sea. We also geolocated imagery of Tomahawk fragments to outside Kafr Zita in Syria. Experts told us that the presence of these missiles in Iraqi and Syrian airspace without an agreement with the countries they pass over might violate international law. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/03/11/iran-war-iraq-tomahawks-munitions-syria-located-kurdistan-missiles-fired/?utm_source=mstdn

New video footage shows a US Tomahawk missile hitting an IRGC ...

2026-03-08T19:28:23Z

New video footage shows a US Tomahawk missile hitting an IRGC facility in Minab, Iran, on Feb 28, showing for the first time that the US struck the area. The footage also shows smoke already rising from the vicinity of the girls’ school, where 175 people were reportedly killed, including children.

The footage appears to contradict President Donald Trump’s claim it was an Iranian missile that hit the school on Feb. 28.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/08/video-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-strike-next-to-girls-school-in-iran/

Exclusive: Two of the world's most wanted men, Daniel and ...

2026-03-08T09:10:38Z

Exclusive: Two of the world's most wanted men, Daniel and Christy Kinahan, were photographed at a Mixed Martial Arts event in Dubai — their most recent sighting since the US issued multi-million dollar bounties. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/07/new-footage-shows-wanted-kinahan-cartel-kingpins-post-sanctions/?utm_source=mstdn
Bellingcat found the images of the father and son cartel leaders at the 971 Fighting Championship last June, where they are seen with the event’s founder and former UFC athlete, Mounir “The Sniper” Lazzez.

Trying to make sense of an aircraft’s movements during a ...

2026-03-05T14:37:47Z

Trying to make sense of an aircraft’s movements during a conflict? Context is everything. That’s why we built Turnstone, an open source tool that searches historical flight data to allow researchers to explore flight patterns over time and in specific locations. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/05/turnstone-flight-tracking-tool/?utm_source=mstdn
For example, flight data before both the June 2025 and February 2026 strikes showed a uniquely large number of American aerial tankers leaving the US and crossing the Atlantic towards Iran.

A satellite imagery analysis conducted by Bellingcat shows that ...

2026-03-04T16:18:40Z

A satellite imagery analysis conducted by Bellingcat shows that at least 15 police stations or police-related buildings were targeted in strikes conducted in Tehran between March 1 and March 3. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/03/04/satellite-imagery-reveals-strikes-on-iranian-police-stations/?utm_source=mstdn

Israel used 2,000+ bombs in the first 30 hours of the Iran war; ...

2026-03-03T13:18:59Z

Israel used 2,000+ bombs in the first 30 hours of the Iran war; the US struck 1,000+ targets in the first 24 hours. Iran responded with at least 390 missiles and 830 drones in the first two days. Bellingcat has tracked the munitions used by all sides so far: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/03/bombs-will-fall-everywhere-the-american-israeli-and-iranian-weapons-being-deployed-in-middle-east/?utm_source=mstdn

How do you monitor live events in real time, know what to look or ...

2026-02-25T10:59:39Z

How do you monitor live events in real time, know what to look or listen out for and archive before it disappears? OSINT researcher Aram Shabanian joins us tomorrow to break down his favourite public tools for tracking natural disasters and civil emergencies:
https://discord.gg/XDvTb8v8?event=1475541963477487847

Grok users prompted the AI chatbot to identify victims from ...

2026-02-07T16:10:52Z

Grok users prompted the AI chatbot to identify victims from redacted Epstein Files images. Of 31 requests reviewed, Grok generated images for 27, spanning 18 images and one video. X did not respond to requests for comment on Grok's behaviour by time of publication. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dhD8OKxZBpk

Our Digital Hate and Harms Team has just released a new microsite ...

2026-01-30T11:18:38Z

Our Digital Hate and Harms Team has just released a new microsite to document and share information about symbols used by hate groups from around the world. https://monitoring-glossary.bellingcat.com/

The agent who appeared to initiate the altercation with Pretti, ...

2026-01-28T15:35:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…g539
_________________________

The agent who appeared to initiate the altercation with Pretti, and fires the fifth shot, can also be seen in footage wearing a bodycam.

We also found that a federal agent was wearing a body cam that ...

2026-01-28T15:34:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…qx6n
_________________________

We also found that a federal agent was wearing a body cam that appeared to be pointing in the direction of Pretti when he was on the floor, as well as in the direction of the four first gunshots. DHS told Fox News that some of the agents' body cameras were recording at the time of the shooting.

As previously reported we did not find any evidence Pretti’s ...

2026-01-28T15:33:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…k62r
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As previously reported we did not find any evidence Pretti’s gun fired. CBS News has also reported that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) review for Congress of the shooting states that Pretti’s gun wasn’t fired and confirmed two agents fired their guns.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-federal-agents-fired-their-weapons-during-alex-pretti-shooting-report-congress-says

The movement seen in the agent’s arm when the first shot is ...

2026-01-28T15:33:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…atc4
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The movement seen in the agent’s arm when the first shot is heard in the footage is similar to the recoil seen in his arm in the next three shots, where he can be clearly seen firing.

Bellingcat has further analysed videos of the shooting of Alex ...

2026-01-28T15:33:09Z

Bellingcat has further analysed videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. The footage shows an agent wearing a black beanie step behind Pretti. His right arm then appears to recoil at the same time the first shot is heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqqUzXiXptk

PepperBall guns, tasers and tear gas are among the weapons ...

2026-01-27T16:21:45Z

PepperBall guns, tasers and tear gas are among the weapons recently deployed against protesters in the US. In a new guide, Bellingcat weapons expert Trevor Ball details some of the “less-lethal” equipment federal agents have carried during the current immigration raids and how you can identify them. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/01/27/less-lethal-weapons-guide/?utm_source=mastodon

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and ...

2026-01-25T20:40:57Z

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, on January 24. DHS claims he died after an armed struggle, but videos of the incident appears to contradict that claim. Read our analysis here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01/25/alex-pretti-analysing-footage-of-minneapolis-cbp-shooting/?utm_source=mastodon

Just hours after Renee Good was shot, one member of Customs and ...

2026-01-16T18:20:49Z

Just hours after Renee Good was shot, one member of Customs and Border Patrol’s elite tactical team on an adjacent street fired a less-lethal weapon five times in less than five minutes with four shots aimed at the faces of protestors. Bellingcat and Evident Media investigate this action by agent EZ17, in the presence of Commander Gregory Bovino, that appears to violate policy and risks injury or death.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01/16/border-patrol-minneapolis/?utm_source=mastodon

Our researcher Jake Godin has collated our analysis so far on the ...

2026-01-13T15:00:30Z

Our researcher Jake Godin has collated our analysis so far on the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, into one shareable article. Read here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01/13/analysing-footage-of-minneapolis-ice-shooting/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat has identified remnants of a US missile visible inside ...

2026-01-07T20:18:24Z

Bellingcat has identified remnants of a US missile visible inside a three-storey apartment complex, hit during the US military raid to capture President Maduro on Jan 3, 2026. The strike reportedly killed at least one civilian in Venezuela.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01/07/inside-the-strike-the-us-munition-that-hit-a-residential-building-in-venezuela/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat’s 2026 won’t be possible without you. Your ...

2026-01-05T10:53:58Z

Bellingcat’s 2026 won’t be possible without you. Your generous support makes our investigations possible. Here’s what we’ll be focusing on in the year ahead. https://www.bellingcat.com/donate 🧵 (1)

Schools bombed. Football fields destroyed. Swimming pools ...

2025-12-27T13:20:35Z

Schools bombed. Football fields destroyed. Swimming pools damaged.
Ukraine’s children are losing the spaces meant for learning, play, and safety.
Read our investigation ⬇️
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/17/how-russias-invasion-is-impacting-ukraines-youth/?utm_source=mastodon

In a new documentary with FRONTLINE (PBS), The Washington Post ...

2025-12-17T13:05:49Z

In a new documentary with FRONTLINE (PBS), The Washington Post and Evident Media, we investigate the impact of Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/17/israel-iran-nuclear-strikes-usa-us-conflict-weapons/?utm_source=mastdon

War doesn’t just destroy buildings—it erases places where ...

2025-12-17T12:54:41Z

War doesn’t just destroy buildings—it erases places where children learn, play, and grow. Bellingcat and journalists from Agence France-Presse bureaus in Paris and Kyiv take a look at some of the lost spaces of youth in Ukraine, analysing open source data and speaking to young people growing up in the country. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/17/how-russias-invasion-is-impacting-ukraines-youth/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat’s Kolina Koltai uncovers the Hungarian national ...

2025-12-15T15:25:10Z

Bellingcat’s Kolina Koltai uncovers the Hungarian national behind two deepfake porn websites. The key figure rakes in profits and vacations in luxury hotels in Dubai and Bali, whilst website visitors create sexually explicit images and videos.
Find out how we uncovered the administrator behind the deepfakes by reading the full investigation here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/15/mark-resan-reface-deepfake-porn/?utm_source=mastodon

In one video, Abu Lulu is seen taunting around ten apparently ...

2025-12-15T10:36:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…5hsg
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In one video, Abu Lulu is seen taunting around ten apparently unarmed captives before shooting at them at point-blank range. Using distinct terrain features seen in the footage from the surrounding area, and satellite imagery, Bellingcat geolocated the exact execution site (13.71387, 25.27922). (2)

On Friday, the UK sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commander ...

2025-12-15T10:36:25Z

On Friday, the UK sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as Abu Lulu. Bellingcat previously geolocated him in three videos filmed at the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11/05/geolocating-darfur-killings-of-those-escaping-al-fashir/ (1)

An investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List found that ...

2025-12-12T13:25:58Z

An investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List found that Saudi Arabia joined the countries importing grain directly from a sanctioned port in occupied Crimea. Meanwhile Russia attempts to secure recognition of the Ukrainian territory via a US-led peace plan. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/12/russia-ukraine-saudi-arabia-import-smuggled-grain-shadow-fleet-peace-deal-trump-occupied-crimea-petrokhleb-kuban/?utm_source=mastodon

How do investigators turn raw trade data into real stories? ...

2025-12-09T10:11:59Z

How do investigators turn raw trade data into real stories?
Bellingcat’s Katherine de Tolly uncovers hidden supply chains, red flags in import-export records, and key pitfalls in trade-data investigations.
Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on podcast platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2376416

The All-Russian Cossack Society turns school clubs into pipelines ...

2025-12-05T11:30:59Z

The All-Russian Cossack Society turns school clubs into pipelines for state-sponsored militarisation and recruitment for war in Ukraine. Bellingcat shows how they shape an alternative mobilisation force: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/05/from-school-to-battlefield-to-grave-how-russian-cossacks-drive-young-people-to-war/?utm_source=mastodon

We found 23 new apartment complexes built on Mariupol’s ruins, ...

2025-11-28T15:18:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…hymz
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We found 23 new apartment complexes built on Mariupol’s ruins, now sold on Russian sites to Russian families — while Ukrainians fight to reclaim their homes.
See the investigation unfold on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8_MnE3s_CKs?si=UX6F2J8BBmbMvwmT

Mariupol residents are seeing their homes demolished and resold. ...

2025-11-28T15:18:00Z

Mariupol residents are seeing their homes demolished and resold. Researcher Ilvija Bruge breaks down her investigation in our latest Bellingchat Premium episode on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-mariupols-144547855

Streets have been renamed, Ukrainian monuments removed, and ...

2025-11-14T12:46:51Z

Streets have been renamed, Ukrainian monuments removed, and murals painted over. Bellingcat investigates how apartment blocks in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have been demolished to make way for a new Russian suburban utopia… https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2025/11/14/building-on-ruins-the-russification-of-mariupol-one-apartment-block-at-a-time/?utm_source=mastodon

Read the full story here: ...

2025-11-02T08:04:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…x9wj
_________________________

Read the full story here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/23/russias-grain-smuggling-fleet-continues-undeterred/

Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, ...

2025-11-02T08:04:38Z

Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, captured on camera and on satellite imagery, evading sanctions to deliver grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen. https://youtube.com/shorts/OrTUamNLid8?feature=share

Children tear-gassed. Teenagers tackled to the ground. Bellingcat ...

2025-10-31T19:09:11Z

Children tear-gassed. Teenagers tackled to the ground. Bellingcat analysed footage of clashes between federal officers and civilians after a judge issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics in Illinois: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/31/illinois-immigration-protests/?utm_source=mastodon

Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, ...

2025-10-23T10:42:51Z

Another Russian ship has been added to the grain smuggling fleet, captured on camera and on satellite imagery, evading sanctions to deliver grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen. Follow its covert journey here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/23/russias-grain-smuggling-fleet-continues-undeterred/?utm_source=mstdn

What tools do you use to investigate wildfires?

2025-10-17T16:00:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…krjx
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What tools do you use to investigate wildfires?

Want to find out what other types of environmental damage can be ...

2025-10-17T16:00:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…fqdp
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Want to find out what other types of environmental damage can be observed from space? You can learn about the different bands of satellite imagery and what they can reveal here: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/01/10/satellite-imagery-bands-guide/

Researchers double-checked their findings from other tools by ...

2025-10-17T16:00:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…gsuv
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Researchers double-checked their findings from other tools by comparing imagery with what they could see in historical and current satellite imagery of the area on both Planet and Google Earth.

Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare claimed the fires began ...

2025-10-17T16:00:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…p30p
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Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare claimed the fires began “due to suspected charcoal production activities on bordering commercial farms.” Google Earth imagery confirmed the presence of a small village and several charcoal kilns near the location of the first fire.

SunCalc was used to confirm that photos of injured wildlife were ...

2025-10-17T15:59:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…ywjf
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SunCalc was used to confirm that photos of injured wildlife were captured at the time and location of the fires in Etosha National Park. Using the shadow of a jackal, the tool calculated the photo was taken at 11:47 on Sept, 28, matching the photographer's timeline of events. https://www.suncalc.org

Using the Copernicus Browser’s multispectral band feature, ...

2025-10-17T15:59:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…ex8p
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Using the Copernicus Browser’s multispectral band feature, researchers were able to view the scorched landscape in far greater detail and track how the fire damage spread over just a few days. https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/

After a funding warning appeared on NASA’s FIRMS site, many ...

2025-10-17T15:58:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…dp52
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After a funding warning appeared on NASA’s FIRMS site, many worried wildfire data access could be disrupted.
Fortunately, FIRMS continues to update daily — remaining an essential open-source resource for fire monitoring worldwide. https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/

NASA FIRMS was a good starting point, helping our researchers ...

2025-10-17T15:58:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…c0p3
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NASA FIRMS was a good starting point, helping our researchers confirm when the fires were first detected. NASA FIRMS uses a colour classification system to show how long ago an active fire was detected. A yellow square indicated this latest wildfire was first detected at 15:25 on Sept, 22.

Last week, we revealed the scale of wildfires that tore through ...

2025-10-17T15:57:56Z

Last week, we revealed the scale of wildfires that tore through one of Africa’s largest nature reserves. 🌍🔥
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/07/wildfires-ravage-one-of-africas-largest-nature-reserves/
Now, we’re detailing how our team uncovered the story — and the open-source tools that made it possible. 🧵

Universities may hold the key to fighting misinformation... On ...

2025-10-06T10:39:34Z

Universities may hold the key to fighting misinformation... On Thursday we speak to a professor and a former student of Utrecht University about their Open-Source Global Justice Investigations Lab discussing how the lab is building critical thinking skills and leading to headline stories.
https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1424704897550516234

Our new and improved Bellingcat Toolkit is one-year-old today! If ...

2025-09-24T12:16:08Z

Our new and improved Bellingcat Toolkit is one-year-old today! If you haven't used it yet its a one-stop shop for discovering useful open source tools, maintained by an amazing group of volunteers. You can find use cases, guidance and honest reviews for each tool. https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit

Check out Panton's database of 'sketchy boats' here: ...

2025-09-22T16:08:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…85yf
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Check out Panton's database of 'sketchy boats' here: https://sketchy.boats/about

How do you track vessels with shady ownership structures and a ...

2025-09-22T16:08:03Z

How do you track vessels with shady ownership structures and a suspicious tendency to turn off their tracking signals? This week's Stage Talk guest Christian Panton built a resource to help monitor ships that require further investigation. Join us Thursday, 5pm CEST/11am EDT: https://discord.gg/NaWDNGrF?event=1419705061977620610

On the 14th to the 17th we have another round of training on ...

2025-09-21T15:45:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…s593
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On the 14th to the 17th we have another round of training on Bellingcat’s core methods, from verifying an image to tracing individual and group digital footprints.
https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-14-17-2025-bellingcat-online-workshop-16-hour-americas-europe-friendly-time/

On October 10th we’re also offering a workshop on using and ...

2025-09-21T15:45:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…9fq7
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On October 10th we’re also offering a workshop on using and investigating topics on the Russian language internet
https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-10-2025-bellingcat-online-workshop-on-runet-investigations-4-hour-americas-europe-friendly-time/

For European-based training, check out our first workshop from ...

2025-09-21T15:44:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…yzv5
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For European-based training, check out our first workshop from the 7th to the 10th. This course will take you through verification techniques and social media and individual-focused research https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-7-10-2025-bellingcat-online-workshop-16-hour-europe-friendly-time/

It is a good time to learn how to find accurate information ...

2025-09-21T15:44:45Z

It is a good time to learn how to find accurate information online. We’re offering virtual training sessions over the month of October, teaching you Bellingcat’s investigative techniques…

Recently Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins appeared on the ...

2025-09-19T12:56:05Z

Recently Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins appeared on the Democracy For Sale podcast highlighting how our information ecosystem is breaking and discussing what steps we could take to rebuild it: https://youtu.be/ZPSvAS2W3cc?feature=shared

In June last year, Bellingcat assessed the loss of cultural ...

2025-09-19T10:36:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…eey6
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In June last year, Bellingcat assessed the loss of cultural heritage sites in Gaza due to the conflict. Many more sites have now been impacted since this report. In February 2025 the World Bank reported that fifty-three percent of heritage sites were damaged or destroyed. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/06/26/gaza-israel-destroy-destruction-damage-cultural-history-heritage-archaeology-conflict-war/

On Sunday the 13-storey al-Kawthar building, a temporary ...

2025-09-19T10:36:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…8wuj
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On Sunday the 13-storey al-Kawthar building, a temporary warehouse for artefacts found in Gaza, was hit. The archeologist caretakers told the BBC they had to scramble to evacuate the artefacts. But they said that some items were still inside when the building was destroyed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-e26c7357-09f8-42af-81ae-42cbaf04b593

Another historical site about 2km away from Tell Ali Muntar, the ...

2025-09-19T10:35:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…fa8q
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Another historical site about 2km away from Tell Ali Muntar, the Aybaki Mosque, was also recently hit in an Israeli airstrike on September 16. This video shows the strike and aftermath on the 13th century mosque. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M0NbUwpyXhY

The Planet imagery shows that the nearby Tell Ali Muntar cemetery ...

2025-09-19T10:35:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…v385
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The Planet imagery shows that the nearby Tell Ali Muntar cemetery has also been partially cleared as well. In the most recent image from September 15, there's a tank parked overlooking it at the time of capture.

Dr. Louise Steel, an archeologist surveyed the site in the ...

2025-09-19T10:34:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…rau4
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Dr. Louise Steel, an archeologist surveyed the site in the 90’s. In her paper recounting the work, she wrote that the “Middle Bronze Age sherds" found there might indicate that the site "was occupied at least as early as ancient Gaza, and possibly even earlier.” https://www.academia.edu/4195805/Gaza_Research_Project_1998_Survey_of_the_Old_City_of_Gaza

The latest SkySat imagery from Planet taken on September 15 shows ...

2025-09-19T10:34:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…8c50
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The latest SkySat imagery from Planet taken on September 15 shows how much of the hill has been transformed into a fortified position. Two sets of earthen berms ring the hill and multiple vehicles are visible. A comparison image from October 15 2023 shows how much the area has been altered.

Tell Ali Muntar — an archeological mound in Gaza City’s ...

2025-09-19T10:31:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…vqpv
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Tell Ali Muntar — an archeological mound in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood — has been gradually turned into a fortified position for the IDF, potentially damaging material dating to the Bronze Age. In March an IDP camp was present, by April it had been cleared as the IDF dug dirt berms.

Israeli forces continue to push into Gaza City, but in recent ...

2025-09-19T10:29:42Z

Israeli forces continue to push into Gaza City, but in recent days important historical and cultural sites have also been further damaged by IDF operations across Gaza. Many of these sites held unexplored archaeological data that could now be lost 🧵

Far-right fight nights are events bringing together combat ...

2025-09-15T16:20:25Z

Far-right fight nights are events bringing together combat fighting, extremist bands and merch, in an attempt to bring in new recruits and solidify existing relationships. Researcher Michael Colborne (npub14fa…r0fs) locates the latest event for a California-based far-right group: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09/15/active-club-fight-night-2025-san-diego/?utm_source=mastodon
Although the organising groups publicise their operations to their followers, owners of the venues used for these events are often unaware of what is happening behind closed doors.

The largest aid flotilla in history has been attacked twice in ...

2025-09-10T15:57:00Z

The largest aid flotilla in history has been attacked twice in two days whilst in port in Tunisia. Open source analysis suggests an incendiary munition is to blame, contradicting officials' statements that the first attack was caused by a “cigarette butt” or “lighter”. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09/10/incendiary-munitions-strike-gaza-bound-flotilla-two-nights-in-a-row/?utm_source=mastodon

Finding key information shared at council meetings takes time and ...

2025-08-28T16:49:36Z

Finding key information shared at council meetings takes time and effort. Today, we've launched a tool that allows you to search verbatim quotes from council meetings in the UK and Ireland, without the need to watch long recordings or sift through extensive notes. https://council-search.bellingcat.com/

We thought it was time we introduced ourselves... From a global ...

2025-08-19T09:26:35Z

We thought it was time we introduced ourselves...
From a global crisis to an underreported event, we find the facts using publicly available resources. From documenting human rights abuses to tracking environmental damage, our investigations focus on issues that affect communities worldwide. By detailing our methods, we invite you to explore, replicate, and contribute to investigations. Find out more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyQyHt4LNKM

Nothing is permanent on social media. Users deleting their posts ...

2025-08-13T09:22:54Z

Nothing is permanent on social media. Users deleting their posts or webpages can lead to the erasure of a trail of evidence that may be crucial to your investigations. But how do you keep that vital data? We've improved our Auto Archiver tool to make archiving your sources easier and set it up to be more manageable to navigate as a research team... https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/13/the-open-source-tool-that-has-preserved-150000-pieces-of-online-evidence/?utm_source=mstdn

More than 40 people have been confirmed dead, and 80,000 ...

2025-08-08T15:26:32Z

More than 40 people have been confirmed dead, and 80,000 residents have been evacuated across Beijing due to widespread flooding. Bellingcat used public sources to begin to track the damage. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08/08/strongwhat-can-open-sources-reveal-about-beijings-deadly-floods-strong/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat and Alt News found evidence of violent assaults by ...

2025-07-15T09:03:17Z

Bellingcat and Alt News found evidence of violent assaults by members of five Indian “animal welfare” groups. Our investigation sheds light on how such groups are part of an informal network carrying out violence against people they accuse of "smuggling" cows. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/15/cow-vigilantes-india/?utm_source=mastodon

On Friday, a federal judge in LA granted a temporary restraining ...

2025-07-14T14:35:58Z

On Friday, a federal judge in LA granted a temporary restraining order against immigration raids in Southern California. https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/07/la-immigration-restraining-order/

Join us this Thursday as we discuss how to monitor immigration raids using open sources, with Bellingcat's Kolina Koltai alongside Sergio Olmos of [@CALMatters](https://flipboard.com/@CALMatters ) and Kevin Clancy of Evident Media, as the U.S. population prepares for another wave of arrests. https://discord.gg/uQUGhUHk?event=1394292393557360722