Read our latest analysis of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan. Open source evidence that we reviewed showed that more than 80 people attempting to flee Al Fashir were killed near a berm that the RSF built around the city. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Read our latest analysis of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan. Open source evidence that we reviewed showed that more than 80 people attempting to flee Al Fashir were killed near a berm that the RSF built around the city. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
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: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Tear Gas, Pepper Balls Among Weapons Deployed Against Illinois Protesters
A judge issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics by federal agents, including those involved in Operation Midway Blitz in the Chicago region.
www.bellingcat.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Bellingcat has geolocated footage of a mass killing outside the recently captured Sudanese city of El Fasher. In the video, which has circulated widely online, RSF commander Abu Lulu can be seen firing his weapon at what appears to be ten unarmed men sitting on the ground. Image: @vantortech
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Bellingcat has geolocated footage of a mass killing outside the recently captured Sudanese city of El Fasher. In the video, which has circulated widely online, RSF commander Abu Lulu can be seen firing his weapon at what appears to be ten unarmed men sitting on the ground. Image: @vantortech
Reposted by Merel Zoet
I went to the opening of this exhibition last week
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.
Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I went to the opening of this exhibition last week
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
It features a cool Bellingcat display, showing the work we (primarily Ollie Ballinger @yoruk.bsky.social, Bridget Diakun @godin.bsky.social & Youri van der Weide) produced to track Russian ships surreptitiously exporting grain from occupied Crimea
Reposted by Merel Zoet
We identified another Russian vessel that disabled its location data while smuggling grain from occupied Ukraine to Yemen. Learn how we used photographs, satellite imagery, and ship-tracking data, to uncover its covert voyage. www.youtube.com/shorts/OrTUa...
Going Dark:What Is This Russian Ship Hiding?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
We identified another Russian vessel that disabled its location data while smuggling grain from occupied Ukraine to Yemen. Learn how we used photographs, satellite imagery, and ship-tracking data, to uncover its covert voyage. www.youtube.com/shorts/OrTUa...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
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: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Russia’s Grain Smuggling Fleet Continues Undeterred - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified yet another Russian-flagged vessel exporting grain from occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen.
www.bellingcat.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
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: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Was super honored to have 3 of my write-ups for September challenges being featured in the newsletter.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
Want to stay up-to-date with the challenges? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Here we’ll also share the answers of last month’s challenges, thanks to everyone who submitted a blog, write-up or shared their methods in our Discord.
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/p/oceans-of-...
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/p/oceans-of-...
Oceans of Evidence
Ready to track some ships? This month we're covering ship tracking in the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge.
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Was super honored to have 3 of my write-ups for September challenges being featured in the newsletter.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
It was a lot of fun writing them, but also quite a lot of extra work and it was a very pleasant feeling to be appreciated. Thanks to the Bellingcat community managers for their amazing work.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
October 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Satellite analysis by Bellingcat found that wildfires destroyed over a third of Namibia’s most visited wildlife reserve last month, impacting crucial grazing lands for endangered species, including black rhinos and elephants. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Wildfires Ravage One of Africa’s Largest Nature Reserves - bellingcat
Satellite analysis of the Etosha wildfires in Namibia has found that more than a third of the nature reserve was burned.
www.bellingcat.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Satellite analysis by Bellingcat found that wildfires destroyed over a third of Namibia’s most visited wildlife reserve last month, impacting crucial grazing lands for endangered species, including black rhinos and elephants. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Can LLMs identify where a photo was taken? And how accurate are they? We put some AI models to the test...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
Can ChatGPT Find Out Where Your Photo Was Taken?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Can LLMs identify where a photo was taken? And how accurate are they? We put some AI models to the test...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
September 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”
Reposted by Merel Zoet
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 official statements. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...
Incendiary Munitions Strike Gaza-bound Flotilla Two Nights in a Row - bellingcat
On September 8 and 9, two vessels of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were attacked outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Bellingcat analysed footage and images from both incidents. ...
www.bellingcat.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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 official statements. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
How are you getting on with the latest set of challenges? If you’re stuck, make sure to join our livestream on Wednesday at 5PM CEST. Bellingcat’s @poojachaudhuri.bsky.social might be able to help you further… www.youtube.com/live/5pBNFIc...
September 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
How are you getting on with the latest set of challenges? If you’re stuck, make sure to join our livestream on Wednesday at 5PM CEST. Bellingcat’s @poojachaudhuri.bsky.social might be able to help you further… www.youtube.com/live/5pBNFIc...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
It's go time! Every month, @merelzoet.bsky.social and I bring together five open source research challenges!
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
September 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
It's go time! Every month, @merelzoet.bsky.social and I bring together five open source research challenges!
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
👉 challenge.bellingcat.com 👈
After several specialist themed challenges, we're back to our roots with traditional geolocations.
Can you track down our holiday snaps? 📸🏝️
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Academic or student in the USA? Our research techniques can be useful in assessing fake news. We're helping students to investigate and better understand the anti-democratic online ideologies that threaten their communities with two free webinars on digital investigation skills this September 🧵
August 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Academic or student in the USA? Our research techniques can be useful in assessing fake news. We're helping students to investigate and better understand the anti-democratic online ideologies that threaten their communities with two free webinars on digital investigation skills this September 🧵
Reposted by Merel Zoet
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. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
What Can Open Sources Reveal About Beijing’s Deadly Floods? - bellingcat
After days of torrential rain and more than 40 people confirmed dead, what can open sources tell us about the damage in China's capital?
www.bellingcat.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Pleased to have our latest piece in collaboration with @nikkei.com finally out. Thanks to @beaudonelly.bsky.social @conplnk.bsky.social and @merelzoet.bsky.social
Bellingcat, in collaboration with @nikkei.com, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling network’s operations in Japan. Read our full investigation here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
A Chinese Fentanyl Smuggling Network’s Footprints in Japan - bellingcat
Bellingcat, in collaboration with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling network's operations in Japan.
www.bellingcat.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pleased to have our latest piece in collaboration with @nikkei.com finally out. Thanks to @beaudonelly.bsky.social @conplnk.bsky.social and @merelzoet.bsky.social
Reposted by Merel Zoet
A massive crowd of Palestinians surrounding aid trucks is visible in July 26 SkySat imagery from @planet.com near the so-called Morag Corridor at 31.3104, 34.2822 in southern Gaza.
July 26 video from Ibrahim Alsallout on Instagram showed the crowd from the ground: www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6n...
July 26 video from Ibrahim Alsallout on Instagram showed the crowd from the ground: www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6n...
July 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A massive crowd of Palestinians surrounding aid trucks is visible in July 26 SkySat imagery from @planet.com near the so-called Morag Corridor at 31.3104, 34.2822 in southern Gaza.
July 26 video from Ibrahim Alsallout on Instagram showed the crowd from the ground: www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6n...
July 26 video from Ibrahim Alsallout on Instagram showed the crowd from the ground: www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6n...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
In our latest Bellingcat Stage Talk we discussed how we monitored the immigration raids in LA using footage shared on social media. Listen to the episode with @koltai.bsky.social, @sergioolmos.bsky.social of @calmatters.org and Kevin Clancy of @evidentmedia.org here: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
July 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
In our latest Bellingcat Stage Talk we discussed how we monitored the immigration raids in LA using footage shared on social media. Listen to the episode with @koltai.bsky.social, @sergioolmos.bsky.social of @calmatters.org and Kevin Clancy of @evidentmedia.org here: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
After watching dozens of ICE raid/arrest videos it's clear how smartphones change the dynamics in these situations: It's why faces are covered, why operations are fast-in/fast-out, and in many cases why agents show restraint.
> Filming and knowing your rights is crucial to a balanced power dynamic.
> Filming and knowing your rights is crucial to a balanced power dynamic.
July 9, 2025 at 9:50 AM
After watching dozens of ICE raid/arrest videos it's clear how smartphones change the dynamics in these situations: It's why faces are covered, why operations are fast-in/fast-out, and in many cases why agents show restraint.
> Filming and knowing your rights is crucial to a balanced power dynamic.
> Filming and knowing your rights is crucial to a balanced power dynamic.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
“If they run, we go” -ICE
ICE has shown no signs of slowing down its raids, which, according to our analysis, appear targeted. From car washes to Home Depots, to a display of force and intimidation, these masked agents have stretched across LA, rounding up people with brown skin.
ICE has shown no signs of slowing down its raids, which, according to our analysis, appear targeted. From car washes to Home Depots, to a display of force and intimidation, these masked agents have stretched across LA, rounding up people with brown skin.
Armed officers, frequent use of force and people grabbed on the street or at their places of work. Working with @evidentmedia.org and @calmatters.org we have monitored the LA raids, discovering recurring trends and tactics used by officers. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...
Masked, Armed and Forceful: Finding Patterns in Los Angeles Immigration Raids - bellingcat
Bellingcat collected videos and images from recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, analysing trends and apparent tactics used by law enforcement.
www.bellingcat.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:38 PM
“If they run, we go” -ICE
ICE has shown no signs of slowing down its raids, which, according to our analysis, appear targeted. From car washes to Home Depots, to a display of force and intimidation, these masked agents have stretched across LA, rounding up people with brown skin.
ICE has shown no signs of slowing down its raids, which, according to our analysis, appear targeted. From car washes to Home Depots, to a display of force and intimidation, these masked agents have stretched across LA, rounding up people with brown skin.
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Armed officers, frequent use of force and people grabbed on the street or at their places of work. Working with @evidentmedia.org and @calmatters.org we have monitored the LA raids, discovering recurring trends and tactics used by officers. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...
Masked, Armed and Forceful: Finding Patterns in Los Angeles Immigration Raids - bellingcat
Bellingcat collected videos and images from recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, analysing trends and apparent tactics used by law enforcement.
www.bellingcat.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Armed officers, frequent use of force and people grabbed on the street or at their places of work. Working with @evidentmedia.org and @calmatters.org we have monitored the LA raids, discovering recurring trends and tactics used by officers. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Merel Zoet
We’re back with a new series of open source challenges! Bellingcat researcher @oldpete45.bsky.social 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! ➡️ challenge.bellingcat.com
July 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
We’re back with a new series of open source challenges! Bellingcat researcher @oldpete45.bsky.social 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! ➡️ challenge.bellingcat.com
Reposted by Merel Zoet
Landmines and other unexploded ordnance litter a large part of Ukraine today, including on agricultural land. Farmers in impacted regions are returning to potentially contaminated lands, often unsure of what lies beneath them. With @afp.com, we explored the issue www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...
Ukraine’s Contaminated Land: Clearing Landmines With Rakes, Tractors and Drones - bellingcat
This story was produced in partnership with Agence France-Presse (AFP). In a field near the small town of Bezymenne in southern Ukraine, Viktoria Shynkar carefully picks out a narrow path through the ...
www.bellingcat.com
July 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Landmines and other unexploded ordnance litter a large part of Ukraine today, including on agricultural land. Farmers in impacted regions are returning to potentially contaminated lands, often unsure of what lies beneath them. With @afp.com, we explored the issue www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...