A suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle ignored signals from troops to stop and rammed into the wall of a security post in Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. The powerful explosion caused part of the compound to collapse, killing 11 soldiers and a young girl, and wounding seven civilians, including women and children. Following the blast, gunmen attempted to storm the post, leading to a firefight in which security forces killed 12 militants. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban or TTP), which has been behind a surge in militant attacks in the region. Authorities continued security operations following the attack. The TTP has carried out similar attacks in the province and has been emboldened since the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.

A large group of gunmen riding more than 200 motorcycles launched a predawn raid on three villages in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State near the border with the Republic of Benin. At least 30 villagers were killed in the attacks, and houses and shops were set on fire. The attackers struck the village of Tunga-Makeri first, where local police and survivors said at least six people were killed, buildings were set ablaze, and an unknown number of villagers were kidnapped. At around 6 am local time, the assailants moved on to Konkoso and Pissa, with a resident of Konkoso reporting that around 26 villagers were killed there after the village’s police station was burned. Survivors described chaotic scenes of gunfire, widespread arson, and beheadings as many villagers fled into the surrounding bushland. Fear of further attacks has left many too afraid to return home. The attacks are part of a broader surge in insecurity in northern Nigeria involving armed gangs known locally as “bandits,” who have carried out deadly assaults, kidnappings for ransom, and the displacement of rural communities. Government efforts to restore stability continue amid mounting pressure from both domestic critics and international partners.

At approximately 11:05 am local time, a routine domestic flight operated by a Smart Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, managed by Smart Cakrawala Aviation, was attacked moments after landing at Korowai Batu Airstrip in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua. The aircraft had arrived from Tanah Merah when armed gunmen opened fire near the runway, forcing passengers and crew to flee in panic. Both pilots and the 13 passengers, including an infant, escaped into nearby forested terrain as shots were fired around the airstrip. All passengers managed to hide and survived the attack unharmed. The two pilots, however, became separated from the group. Captain Egon Erawan and First Officer Baskoro were pursued by the attackers, captured, and forcibly brought back to the airstrip, where they were shot dead. Their bodies were later recovered near the runway. Indonesia’s Papua Regional Police and the Damai Cartenz Task Force were deployed to secure the area and evacuate the survivors. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the TPNPB-OPM Yahukimo faction, which has previously targeted security forces and infrastructure in the region. Following the attack, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspended operations at 11 pioneer airports in Papua, including Korowai Batu Service Unit (Satpel) in South Papua, Bomakia Airport in Papua Highlands, Yaniruma Service Unit in Papua Highlands, and Manggelum Service Unit in Papua Highlands. Additionally, Kapiraya Aerodrome, Iwur Aerodrome, Faowi Aerodrome, Dagai Aerodrome, Aboy Aerodrome, and Teraplu Aerodrome—all located in Papua Highlands—were also suspended. Beoga Aerodrome in Central Papua has likewise been suspended. Five other pioneer airports continue to operate under military and police security despite being located in high-risk areas.

At approximately 1:20 p.m. local time in the remote town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, an 18-year-old transgender ex-student, Jesse Van Rootselaar, began a mass shooting that became one of the deadliest in recent Canadian history. The violence started at the suspect’s home where she fatally shot her 39-year-old mother and her 11-year-old stepbrother before proceeding to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a small public school serving around 175 students. Upon arriving at the school, officers received reports of an active shooter and initiated lockdown procedures. At the school, the suspect opened fire in a stairwell and library, killing six people including a 39-year-old female teacher and five students aged between 12 and 13. The suspect was later found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, were recovered by police. Twenty-seven others were wounded, with some receiving serious injuries and at least two airlifted to larger hospitals for treatment. Authorities stated there was no immediate evidence that victims were specifically targeted and that the suspect had previously held a firearms licence that expired in 2024 and had a history of mental health-related police visits. Students and staff sheltered and barricaded themselves during the attack, with accounts of hiding for hours. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who reached the school within minutes, continue to investigate the motive.

At around 12:15 pm local time, a gunman wearing an explosive device opened fire at the gate of the Shi’ite Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers. The gunman then detonated the explosive device inside the mosque, killing at least 31 people and wounding about 169 others. Security forces responded quickly and transported the injured to hospitals. Pakistan’s defence minister alleged that the bomber had links to Afghanistan and also accused India of involvement, a claim New Delhi categorically denied. The attack took place amid heightened security in the capital during an official visit by Uzbekistan’s president.