DC transit worker fatally shot trying to stop gunman; 2 others wounded
A Metro transit employee was killed as he confronted a gunman who had already shot and wounded two people during a violent rampage at a train platform in Washington, D.C., police said.
The violence kicked off Wednesday morning on a Metrobus near 14th Street and Potomac around 9 a.m., Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict said during a news conference. The suspect, who was armed, confronted random passengers onboard before following one rider off the bus and shooting the person in the leg.
From there, the shooter entered the Potomac Avenue Metro station and shot someone who was trying to buy a metro card, Benedict said. He then confronted a woman, drawing the attention of a Metro employee, who was shot and killed as he attempted to intervene.
A second employee then approached the assailant in an attempt to “engage” the gunman and “de-escalate” the situation, Benedict said. No other shots were fired after that, he added.
The shooter then entered and exited a Metro car several times before he was eventually tackled by passengers and taken into custody, according to police. He has not been identified.
Benedict hailed the murdered Metro employee as a hero and offered his thoughts and prayers to the family. He also praised the citizens who stepped up and helped detain the gunman.
—New York Daily News
Kyiv braces for big Russian onslaught as West considers options
MOSCOW — Ukraine expects a "maximum escalation" from Russia in the coming months as the Kremlin on Wednesday backed bonuses for troops who hit NATO weapons.
Members of the Western alliance are considering more support for Ukraine as the almost year-long war enters a crucial phase ahead of the winter thaw.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, told Britain's Sky News that he expected about half of the more than 320,000 soldiers mobilized by Russia late last year would form part of a renewed attack.
"I'm conscious the main fights are yet to come and they will happen this year, within two to three months. These will be defining months in the war," Danilov said.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited the armed forces in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia on Wednesday to learn more about the Leopard 2 main battle tank, 14 of which are being sent to Ukraine. Germany currently opposes sending fighter jets.
Spain meanwhile wants to supply Ukraine with four to six Leopard tanks, the newspaper El País reported.
—dpa
Attacks on US power grids rose to all-time high in 2022
Attacks on U.S. power grids rose to an all-time high last year, further straining the sprawling and aging network.
The number of direct physical attacks, including acts of vandalism and other suspicious activity, that potentially threatened grid reliability rose 77% to 163 in 2022 from the previous year, according data released by the U.S. Energy Department Tuesday. The incidents put the network at risk in more than three dozen states, affecting about 90,000 customers.
Substations, which are responsible for stepping down high-voltage power to lower levels that can be delivered safely to homes, became high-profile targets late last year.
That the web of wires connecting thousands of power plants to supply hundreds of millions of Americans is vulnerable from physical and cyber attacks isn’t new. But the rise in physical attacks is a stunning reminder of how certain targeted infrastructure can lead to significant disruptions and losses. Regulators, federal authorities and the industry have been working to identify the most vulnerable components of the grid to prevent big blackouts.
The total number of reported disturbances that threaten grid reliability was little-changed last year, rising by three to 390 events. The share of physical attacks ballooned to 42% from less than a quarter of all incidents in 2021. The bulk of the rest of the disturbances are tied to severe weather or other operational issues. The number of cyber events reported rose slightly to nine last year.
—Bloomberg News
Boy survives mountain lion attack in rural California county
LOS ANGELES — A boy is recovering after being attacked by a mountain lion in rural San Mateo County on Tuesday evening.
A San Mateo County sheriff's spokesperson said the department received a distress call at 6:50 p.m. from a hiking site about nine miles southeast of Half Moon Bay.
By the time deputies arrived, the child had been taken by an unknown party to a nearby hospital. His age was not released.
"He's suffered some puncture wounds," Sheriff's Sgt. Javier Acosta said, "but he's going to be OK."
Acosta did not provide further details on the boy's wounds. He noted that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife would be taking over the investigation.
Acosta said it was believed the boy was on a hike with his family and was "a little ahead of the group" when he was attacked.
Acosta, a 20-year veteran, said he could not recall a previous mountain lion incident in the area.
—Los Angeles Times
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