Bellingcat

Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators, and citizen journalists brought together by a passion for open source research.

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Last Notes

2026-04-02 16:11:05 UTC

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/

2026-03-30 14:18:23 UTC

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

2026-03-27 21:54:38 UTC

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

2026-03-26 19:05:56 UTC

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

2026-03-19 09:53:32 UTC

Wildlife traffickers selling protected animals on Facebook use coded language to evade moderation. Research by Bellingcat and @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

2026-03-12 11:19:47 UTC

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

2026-03-11 14:15:48 UTC

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

2026-03-08 19:28:23 UTC

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/

2026-03-08 09:10:38 UTC

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.

2026-03-05 14:37:47 UTC

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.

2026-03-04 16:18:40 UTC

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

2026-03-03 13:18:59 UTC

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

2026-02-25 10:59:39 UTC

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
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2026-02-07 16:10:52 UTC

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

2026-01-30 11:18:38 UTC

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/

2026-01-28 15:35:06 UTC

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The agent who appeared to initiate the altercation with Pretti, and fires the fifth shot, can also be seen in footage wearing a bodycam.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/973/455/200/974/556/original/352ce94e5e7614f7.png

2026-01-28 15:34:32 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/973/452/735/333/590/original/3befe76900488821.png

2026-01-28 15:33:42 UTC

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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

2026-01-28 15:33:25 UTC

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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.

2026-01-28 15:33:09 UTC

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

2026-01-27 16:21:45 UTC

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

2026-01-25 20:40:57 UTC

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

2026-01-16 18:20:49 UTC

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

2026-01-13 15:00:30 UTC

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

2026-01-07 20:18:24 UTC

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

2026-01-05 10:53:58 UTC

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)
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2025-12-27 13:20:35 UTC

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
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2025-12-17 13:05:49 UTC

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

2025-12-17 12:54:41 UTC

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

2025-12-15 15:25:10 UTC

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

2025-12-15 10:36:46 UTC

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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)
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/723/141/323/009/221/original/bb2fa7a26c16142a.jpg

2025-12-15 10:36:25 UTC

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)

2025-12-12 13:25:58 UTC

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

2025-12-09 10:11:59 UTC

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

2025-12-05 11:30:59 UTC

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

2025-11-28 15:18:04 UTC

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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

2025-11-28 15:18:00 UTC

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
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/627/993/029/874/023/original/46ce2360464d000e.mp4

2025-11-14 12:46:51 UTC

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

2025-11-02 08:04:49 UTC

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

2025-11-02 08:04:38 UTC

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

2025-10-31 19:09:11 UTC

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

2025-10-23 10:42:51 UTC

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

2025-10-17 16:00:43 UTC

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What tools do you use to investigate wildfires?

2025-10-17 16:00:36 UTC

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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/

2025-10-17 16:00:29 UTC

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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.

2025-10-17 16:00:20 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/390/336/877/820/938/original/ca2f7f7dbc5b3d66.jpeg

2025-10-17 15:59:51 UTC

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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
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2025-10-17 15:59:20 UTC

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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/
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/390/332/437/950/718/original/2e2629b7bdbdad07.mp4

2025-10-17 15:58:46 UTC

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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/

2025-10-17 15:58:22 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/390/328/999/431/346/original/fed2359f538b0e6c.jpeg

2025-10-17 15:57:56 UTC

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. 🧵

2025-10-06 10:39:34 UTC

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
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2025-09-24 12:16:08 UTC

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

2025-09-22 16:08:10 UTC

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

2025-09-22 16:08:03 UTC

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
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2025-09-21 15:45:29 UTC

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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/

2025-09-21 15:45:14 UTC

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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/

2025-09-21 15:44:57 UTC

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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/

2025-09-21 15:44:45 UTC

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…

2025-09-19 12:56:05 UTC

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

2025-09-19 10:36:30 UTC

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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/

2025-09-19 10:36:10 UTC

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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

2025-09-19 10:35:57 UTC

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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

2025-09-19 10:35:43 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/230/513/317/237/196/original/5578d545804b4814.png

2025-09-19 10:34:24 UTC

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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

2025-09-19 10:34:03 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/230/506/822/560/073/original/62a3c97b57be6923.png
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/230/506/811/623/817/original/a707daf13aa200aa.png

2025-09-19 10:31:33 UTC

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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.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/230/494/552/255/582/original/ee2df1d422391929.png
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/230/494/570/839/199/original/6f2429d566595cbf.png

2025-09-19 10:29:42 UTC

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 🧵

2025-09-15 16:20:25 UTC

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 @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.

2025-09-10 15:57:00 UTC

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

2025-08-28 16:49:36 UTC

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/

2025-08-19 09:26:35 UTC

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

2025-08-13 09:22:54 UTC

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

2025-08-08 15:26:32 UTC

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

2025-07-15 09:03:17 UTC

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

2025-07-14 14:35:58 UTC

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
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2025-07-08 19:26:34 UTC

Working with our partners Evident and [@CALMatters](https://flipboard.com/@CALMatters ) we have monitored the LA raids, discovering recurring trends and tactics used by officers.
Footage collected is of more than 100 arrests and shows agents from the likes of Border Patrol (BP) and, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting people in public spaces, from car washes to swap meets, with officers often obscuring their identities and sometimes using significant force. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/08/masked-armed-and-forceful-finding-patterns-in-los-angeles-immigration-raids/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-07-07 13:01:08 UTC

We’re back with a new series of open source challenges! Bellingcat researcher Peter Barth created five exercises that allow you to uncover some dark secrets buried in time. Welcome to a world of forgotten files, and (confusing) historic maps. https://challenge.bellingcat.com/
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2025-06-26 09:07:57 UTC

Our work with Evident Media and @npub1ekr…auqp has won the News Emmy Award for Outstanding Video Journalism!
Watch the full film here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/29/the-hidden-war-in-gaza-and-the-west-bank/
The documentary features and was published alongside our investigation into one IDF unit responsible for demolitions throughout Gaza. You can read that investigation here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/29/weve-become-addicted-to-explosions-the-idf-unit-responsible-for-demolishing-homes-across-gaza/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-06-16 13:54:26 UTC

Ever discovered data that just isn't collected but should be? On Thursday we'll be talking with Cecília Olliveira about Fogocruzado , a group mapping shootings in Brazilian cities. Fogocruzado is currently one of the largest databases on armed violence in Latin America, and their API is free to access. We'll be discussing how the project got started, collection obstacles and data trends, join us live to ask your questions in our Discord Server at: https://discord.gg/6W2Dcdrq?event=1384146416011710535

2025-06-06 09:36:20 UTC

We all know AI models can now create realistic images and videos but how do they fare at identifying where a real image was taken? Bellingcat researchers have put large language models to the test; we ran 500 geolocation tests, with 20 models each analysing the same set of 25 images. Find out which LLM performed best and which one failed at identifying our geolocation challenges more than others here: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2025/06/06/have-llms-finally-mastered-geolocation/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-05-15 18:30:17 UTC

Here’s how we found the identity of a key figure behind MrDeepfakes —one of the largest providers of non-consensual deepfake pornography in the world. Our latest investigation in partnership with TjekDet , Politiken and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is out on YouTube now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTMaXVTtOdw

2025-05-07 07:20:15 UTC

EXCLUSIVE: Bellingcat, in partnership with Tjekdet, Politiken and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), can reveal the identity of a key administrator behind MrDeepfakes, one of the world’s largest providers of non-consensual deepfake pornography. MrDeepFakes(.com) was visited millions of times every month and hosted almost 70,000 explicit videos which have collectively been viewed more than 2.2 billion times. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/05/07/canadian-pharmacist-linked-to-worlds-most-notorious-deepfake-porn-site/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-05-02 11:58:00 UTC

We're overjoyed to see our documentary produced in partnership with the Evident media team “In Real Life: A Hidden War,” has been nominated for two News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The film explores land changes during the conflict in Gaza, highlighting the level of demolition in the Gaza strip and the ongoing expansion of West Bank settlements, using on the ground reporting and satellite analysis.
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2025-04-17 13:45:18 UTC

We're overjoyed to find our work on migration, as part of a consortium effort, has won the Tom Renner Award for Outstanding Crime Reporting (Investigative Reporters and Editors) . https://www.ire.org/announcing-the-2024-ire-award-winners-and-finalists/

2025-04-04 16:47:33 UTC

Have you seen our latest video yet, looking at Gaza from the skies?
We analyse satellite imagery from the region and build a 3D model of two sites to capture the scale of demolition.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLbvuz6dtH0

2025-03-28 15:01:27 UTC

Bellingcat, along with our partners, identified several cases where drone journalists were killed or injured shortly after capturing aerial images of the destruction in Gaza. Find the video version of this investigation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLbvuz6dtH0

2025-03-27 07:19:58 UTC

Gathering aerial footage of Gaza is a dangerous task. Bellingcat and our partners at Forbidden Stories/ARIJ/Paper Trail Media/Die Zeit/ Der Standard/ Le Monde/RFI identified several cases where drone journalists were killed or injured shortly after capturing aerial images. Together with our publishing partners, we continue the work of these journalists to visualise the unprecedented scale of destruction through detailed 3D aerial maps and satellite imagery. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/03/27/gaza-israel-palestine-shot-killed-injured-destroyed-dangerous-drone-journalists-in-gaza/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-03-25 13:28:14 UTC

It’s already hard to judge whether products you buy online will be the right size or not, but what if the product doesn’t even exist? Bellingcat researcher Kolina Koltai helps you to distinguish between real and AI-generated products online. From AI-generated books, to AI generated photos of products that look very different in real life, find our guide to spotting AI-generated scam products here: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/03/25/detecting-ai-products//?utm_source=mastodon

2025-03-24 15:49:24 UTC

We're hiring! Bellingcat is looking for an Open Source Investigator and Trainer to join our Human Rights and Conflict Monitoring team. Read more about the role and apply here. https://www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-is-hiring-open-source-investigator-and-trainer-conflict/

2025-03-19 13:46:41 UTC

The UN’s World Meteorological Organization announced today that 2024 was the hottest on record and that over the year we faced 151 unprecedented extreme weather events across the globe. We recently shared a guide into visualizing climate data to help clarify the impact of future climate hazards. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2025/03/05/the-story-of-a-storm-part-1-visualising-climate-data-with-nasas-giovanni-tool/?utm_source=mstdn

2025-03-13 11:52:45 UTC

Are you a keen researcher and passionate about environment or wildlife investigations? Bellingcat is looking for wildlife and environment related investigations that use open source methods and tools. It’s not necessary to be a journalist or work at a newsroom, but your work will need to be up to internationally recognised investigative journalism standards and go through a thorough fact-checking process. Find out more, and submit your pitch here: https://www.bellingcat.com/uncategorized/2025/03/13/pitch-wildlife-and-environmental-investigations-to-bellingcat/

2025-03-06 11:08:14 UTC

In our latest investigation, Bellingcat identifies the former Wagner fighter and admin of an racist Telegram group behind a Russian fashion brand that sells clothing items glorifying far-right ideology and the Russian mercenary group Wagner. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/03/06/unmasking-maskov-how-bellingcat-found-a-man-outfitting-russian-neo-nazis/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-03-04 15:36:28 UTC

We’re very excited to announce we're now a charity partner of the Nationale Postcode Loterij! Their annual partner contribution will provide a very valuable source of income for us for the coming five years and will greatly benefit our research and training efforts. We are a not-for-profit and the ability to carry out our work is dependent on funders like the Dutch Postcode Lottery as well as the invaluable support of individual donors. Thank you to the postcode lottery and all its participants.
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2025-02-05 11:46:40 UTC

The downing of flight MH17 in 2014 inspired a movement of online researchers to search for answers... Now, you can see how the Bellingcat team helped uncover those answers in a new three-part documentary series on National Geographic.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/951/112/680/214/466/original/7d8a0ad0751ecaa1.mp4

2025-02-04 11:17:02 UTC

Sheltering in schools or hospitals won’t be possible for many of those returning to Northern Gaza amid the ceasefire. Bellingcat found that more than 80% of former shelters, identified in a November UN report, have been damaged or destroyed in a recent three-month-long military operation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Analysis of recent satellite imagery suggests that the recent destruction in North Gaza will leave many of the returning Palestinians homeless. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/02/04/satellite-imagery-shows-schools-and-hospitals-destroyed-in-northern-gaza/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-01-30 11:06:26 UTC

Neo-Nazis are congregating again in Hungary this February for a two day concert. The event is organised by a branch of a far-right group the UK suspects of “terrorist activities”. Concerts like these are an important source of revenue for far-right groups, with ticket and merchandise sales helping to fund their yearly activities.
Bellingcat’s @npub14fa…r0fs investigates: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/01/30/neo-nazis-linked-to-terrorist-activities-to-host-budapest-concert/?utm_source=mastodon

2025-01-01 15:42:23 UTC

Welcome to 2025! If your new years resolution is to learn a new skill why don't you have a look at some of our guides on open source research? https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/ Want help? We have a community of people eager to learn alongside you and collaborate. https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat
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2024-12-22 20:47:20 UTC

Have you completed this week's challenges yet? There will be more daily quizzes coming your way from tomorrow. Try them out here: https://challenge.bellingcat.com/

2024-12-19 16:10:42 UTC

We spoke to Eliot Higgins on the past and future of open source research in our final Stage Talk of the year. Find it on all podcast platforms under 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' now, like on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Vwba00BFuHpuwe4i3itZA?si=PefkdDIATx-LF92sdpqKSw