Two deadly blasts struck a memorial for a top general in Iran, a New Jersey imam was shot outside his mosque, and we’re tracking a major cross-country storm that could bring the first significant snow in two years to parts of the Northeast.
Wednesday, January 03, 2024 |
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Wednesday, January 03, 2024 |
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Good Wednesday afternoon. Two deadly blasts struck a memorial for a top general in Iran, a New Jersey imam was shot outside his mosque, and we’re tracking a major cross-country storm that could bring the first significant snow in two years to parts of the Northeast. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Iran says more than 100 killed in blasts near general’s tomb |
At least 103 people were killed when two explosions rocked a memorial service for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, officials said, in what Iran’s state-run media has called a terror attack. Iranian television aired video that captured the sound of one of the blasts, and the chaotic aftermath, in the southeastern city of Kerman. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which appears to be the deadliest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The large crowd had gathered on the fourth anniversary of the U.S. drone attack that killed Soleimani in 2020. The U.S. does not believe Israel was behind the attack, according to four current and former U.S. officials. The U.S. was also not responsible, two of the officials said. The attack comes with the Middle East already on edge after months of war between Israel and Hamas, and just a day after a senior Hamas leader was killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike in Beirut. Israel has not claimed responsibility for that strike. |
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New Jersey imam shot outside mosque in Newark, officials say |
A New Jersey imam was critically wounded in a shooting outside a mosque in Newark today, city officials said. A city spokesperson confirmed the victim is an imam at Masjid Muhammad-Newark. A person at the mosque told NBC New York the victim is Imam Hassan Sharif. The victim was shot in the abdomen and the right arm, police said. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to the city’s public safety director. The gunman was wearing all black and was seen running from the location, authorities said. The motive is under investigation. The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in the U.S. since the Israel-Hamas war began, though state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement there is no information suggesting the crime was motivated by bias. |
Cross-country storm may end snow drought in Northeast |
Al Roker is tracking a storm on the move across the country that could bring the first significant snow event in two years to some major cities on the East Coast. After pounding the West Coast with widespread rain, mountain snow and dangerous surf, the storm is moving inland into the Great Basin, and the Southwest, where winter weather advisories have been issued for parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The system is expected to continue marching east over the next several days, bringing heavy snow to the southern Rockies and storms to Texas Thursday, and widespread rain across the Gulf Coast on Friday. By Saturday, the storm is forecast to turn north and bring a mix of rain, snow and sleet up the East Coast that could last through Sunday. The storm could break the longest streak on record of consecutive days without more than 1 inch of snow in New York City (689 days), Philadelphia (704 days) and Baltimore (705 days). Washington, D.C. (717 days) and Richmond, Virginia (717 days) are experiencing their second-longest streaks without significant snow. |
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Bomb threats at multiple state capitols cause lockdowns and evacuations |
Several state capitols across the country were forced to evacuate today after receiving bomb threats, but no explosives have been found, officials said. Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Montana were among the states that evacuated their capitols. Federal officials have warned that government workers have faced a massive surge in threats in recent years. The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, a cross-partisan group of local election officials and law enforcement, condemned the bomb threats. “There is ZERO tolerance for such threats this election year. Zero,” the group said in a statement. “Election officials and legislators alike cannot be intimidated for doing their jobs.” |
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What else we're watching: |
Israel has acknowledged a 25-year-old hostage held by Hamas was killed during a failed rescue attempt in Gaza last month. |
The Japanese coast guard aircraft that was hit by a passenger plane landing on a Tokyo runway Tuesday had not been cleared for take-off, authorities said. |
A man was arrested after he stole a plane from the North Las Vegas Airport and flew more than 100 miles to California, police said. |
16-year-old Luke Littler could make history today, as he aims to become the youngest world champion in this sport. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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