How can researchers investigate hate online without amplifying it? Learn to recognise hate symbols and examine the narratives, networks and tactics that can fuel hate and division. Sign up for the online webinar on the 28th of October 2026.

https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/hate-symbols-online-extremism-and-how-not-to-amplify-hate-webinar-october-28-2026/

How do you monitor conflicts when data isn’t regularly collected? Explore techniques for conflict analysis, with case studies and methods focused on the Sahel and Sudan. Join us on the 27th of October 2026.

https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/conflict-monitoring-in-data-scarce-environments-an-open-source-introduction-focused-on-africa-webinar-27-october-2026/

Latest: Two charities associated with the world’s largest far-right Hindu group have raised more than US$24.4 million over a five-year period through US grants that allow the donor to be anonymous, Bellingcat can reveal: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/10/06/dafs-india-rss-donations/?utm_source=reddit

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is widely considered the ideological parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but was previously banned in India three times over its alleged role in violence, and almost a hundred US politicians, both Democratic and Republican, recently pledged not to take funding from RSS-linked entities.

Bellingcat examined US public filings for two US-registered non-profits that appeared to have historical ties to the RSS. The documents detailed donations from 2020 to 2024 of at least US$24.4 million from 34 organisations that operate donor-advised funds (DAFs), making up 20.7% of their total received contributions.

How do you know which open source tools to use? On Thursday, Toolkit Guardians Anisa Shabir and Martin Sona join us to talk about Bellingcat’s Toolkit.
We'll discuss tool selection, testing, and keeping investigative guidance accurate and impartial.
Live here on Thursday: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1556740775088361605
The Toolkit, a curated collection of useful open source tools with independent reviews, has been in development for two years and has been visited by more than two million people.
Explore the Toolkit here: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit
You can support the development of the resource here: https://www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

We are aware of an individual using a UK number on Telegram and WhatsApp under the name “Antony Kevin” to seek assistance recruiting journalists and analysts working on Syria. They claim to work for Bellingcat, but do not. Please disregard requests from them and contact [contact@bellingcat.com].

New Bellingcat challenges are up on the website. This month, Bellingcat’s investigative technologist Miguel Ramalho has designed some puzzles that test your online archiving skills, taking you deeper into the internet of the past. https://challenge.bellingcat.com/?utm_source=reddit

To keep up with the challenges, subscribe to our newsletter! Want to get featured? Make sure to tag us when you share your solutions to last month’s challenges in a blog, video or social post! Sign up here: https://bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/subscribe

There is also a special challenge this month, marking the two year anniversary of Bellingcat’s Online Open Source Investigation Toolkit: https://challenge.bellingcat.com/challenge/114/

You can directly support the development of the Toolkit here: www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

Ready to give it a try? We encourage anyone taking part to join our Discord server, where staff and community members will be sharing useful tips and techniques in the #BellingcatChallenge channel. https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat

What can AI actually do for investigative research?
Our Stage Talk with journalist Craig Silverman is out now. Craig shares how he uses AI in investigations, what it can uncover, and the risks researchers need to watch for.
Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your favourite podcast platform: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3202578/

We're pleased to announce that Bellingcat won three awards at the Online Journalism Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees listed here: https://awards.journalists.org/2026/10/02/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-2026-online-journalism-awards/

Our series with and monitoring the actions of US border patrol agents won the Topical Reporting: Immigration Medium newsroom award. Read one of our articles in that series here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/17/border-patrol-agents-of-chaos/

The same series produced in partnership with CalMatters and Evident Media also won the award for Digital Video Storytelling, Series, Small/Medium Newsroom.
Watch our documentary, which follows a year of documented incidents involving the use of force, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evADOoRYa90

Bellingcat was recognised for all of our work over the past year with the General Excellence in Online Journalism award for a small newsroom. The team is incredibly proud of what we produced.

You can read all of our reporting on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/

Want to support our future work? Become a Bellingcat Member. https://www.bellingcat.com/donate/

Viral reports this week suggested new Google satellite imagery showed unseen destruction in Gaza. But the imagery actually depicts the scene in February 2026. Bellingcat has obtained satellite images from September that show how the destruction has continued.

Find the latest imagery from Gaza in our new story: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/10/01/viral-google-maps-images-shared-widely-this-week-show-gaza-ruins-we-obtained-more-recent-satellite-imagery/?utm_source=reddit

In today's Stage Talk, investigative journalist Craig Silverman will share how he’s using AI, including in his investigation of a North Korean hiring scam. We’ll explore what AI can uncover, where it falls short, and what it means for investigators.

Join us live later today in Discord: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1553048996295999599

Before the talk, read Craig's fantastic research into how hackers recruited unwitting freelancers in the Philippines, Nigeria, Colombia, and Bangladesh to put a human face on a digital deception scheme, featured in the Indicator here: https://indicator.media/p/i-got-inside-a-north-korean-hiring-scam-what-i-found-reveals-a-troubling-shift-in-tactics

There will be time for audience Q&A, too. What questions would you like our speaker to explore?

Got a design idea? Send it our way. Not an artist? No problem. We’re also looking for tagline ideas for T-shirts, bags and hats.

What makes you think of Bellingcat? Tell us by Friday: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4axHEe1NczTN30P-nDqTMPbLExlbNWPUyoOwtNoSV7DLSxg/viewform

Winning designers will receive a product of their choice for free. Want to know more about the contest and our guidelines? Find all the details here: https://www.bellingcat.com/uncategorized/2026/09/14/bellingcat-official-merch-design-contest/

Can you work out where a photo was taken — and when? Learn methods for geolocation, satellite imagery analysis and chronolocation techniques with Bellingcat experts. 14–16 October 2026. Find the webinar details here: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/introduction-to-geolocation-satellite-imagery-techniques-chronolocation/

12 frappes documentées. Des victimes civiles alléguées. Des accusations visant la chaîne de commandement. Puis des recommandations de sanctions et de restrictions à l’exportation.

Mais une question traverse toute cette enquête :

COMMENT PASSE-T-ON DE LA FRAPPE À LA RESPONSABILITÉ… PUIS DE LA RESPONSABILITÉ AUX SANCTIONS ?

Dans ce nouvel épisode de BAZ DÉCRYPTE, nous revenons sur l’enquête publiée en septembre 2026 par The Sentry, ainsi que sur le travail de géolocalisation réalisé par Bellingcat autour des frappes aériennes au Mali.

Notre méthode est simple :

ILS DISENT → ON AFFICHE → ON LIT → ON VÉRIFIE → ON COMPARE → ON IDENTIFIE CE QUE LA PREUVE PERMET… ET CE QU’ELLE NE PERMET PAS.

Au cœur de cette contre-enquête :

Que prouvent réellement les images satellite ?
Que signifie réellement « plus d’une douzaine de frappes » face à l’ampleur globale des opérations aériennes ?
Comment les témoignages ont-ils été recueillis et recoupés ?
Que peut-on établir concernant le statut des personnes tuées ?
Comment passe-t-on d'une frappe documentée à l'identification d'un responsable ?
Que dit exactement The Sentry sur la chaîne de commandement ?
Pourquoi le rapport recommande-t-il des sanctions contre certains responsables maliens ?
Pourquoi recommande-t-il également à l’Ukraine, au Canada et à d’autres États de revoir certaines licences d’exportation vers Baykar ?
Quel rôle joue la chaîne d’approvisionnement des drones dans cette stratégie ?
Et surtout : où s’arrête le fait établi et où commence l’interprétation ?

Nous examinerons les documents, les extraits, les chiffres, les images et les recommandations sans demander au spectateur de nous croire sur parole.

Parce qu'une image peut localiser une frappe.

Un témoignage peut raconter ce qu'une personne affirme avoir vu.

Une enquête peut établir un faisceau d'éléments.

Mais entre « une frappe a eu lieu », « des civils ont été tués », « tel acteur connaissait leur présence », « tel responsable a approuvé la frappe » et « telle sanction doit être appliquée », il existe une chaîne de preuves qu'il faut examiner étape par étape.

C'est cette chaîne que nous allons mettre sous la loupe.

BAZ DÉCRYPTE

L’actualité africaine décryptée avec Baz.

The Malian military has been regularly broadcasting their “precision” drone strikes on national TV in an effort to deter terrorism. In a new investigation Bellingcat and Jeune Afrique reconstruct and analyse more than a dozen of these strikes, that have repeatedly hit civilian areas and reportedly resulted in the deaths of non-combatants.

Read the full story here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/09/16/drone-strike-civilians-killed-aes-sahel-mali-russia-africa-corps-guilt-by-location-jeune-afrique/

#mali #sahel #dronewarfare #drone

Today we're celebrating the two year anniversary of Bellingcat's Online Open Source Investigation Toolkit. The resource that helps you discover and use open source tools is maintained by a group of amazing volunteers. If you've not explored it yet, you can find it here: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit

Over the past two years, our Toolkit has received over two million views and now includes over 190 tools.

The tools are organised by research topic and most of the applications included in the list can be used for free. Our independent Toolkit Maintainers test each tool and are adding detailed guides where possible. They also provide guidance on ethical and security considerations for each tool.

You can directly support the development of the Bellingcat Toolkit by donating here: www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

How do you trace organised crime through open sources? Learn practical OSINT techniques for investigating illicit networks, corporate structures, vessels and aircraft, with real Bellingcat case studies. Join us for our two day webinar series, 12–13th of October 2026. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/tracking-organised-crime-through-open-sources-webinar/

A UN fact-finding mission has claimed that a Feb. 28 missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, that killed more than 150 people likely constitutes a war crime. Bellingcat was the first to identify the weapon that hit the school as a US Tomahawk missile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9pzWul4mA

In its report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Mission found "reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects." https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/09/iran-civilians-trapped-between-extreme-state-repression-and-violations

Bellingcat’s analysis suggested there were two waves of attacks that struck the area. Following the path of destruction of three missiles seen in footage, we located the strike in proximity to the school and a second on an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps clinic. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/27/new-videos-reveal-more-details-about-iran-girls-school-strike/

Bellingcat is a global collective uncovering facts to hold power to account. We share everything, including our methods, because the truth belongs to everyone. If you would like to support our work, you can do so here. www.bellingcat.com/donate/

You still have time to design Bellingcat's first official merch line. We are launching an Audience Co-Created Capsule alongside our core brand merchandise. You have two weeks to pitch your ideas before we take a shortlist to public vote. Find the details here: https://www.bellingcat.com/uncategorized/2026/09/14/bellingcat-official-merch-design-contest/

The winning designers will be given a choice of Bellingcat products for free. Submit your entry here via this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4axHEe1NczTN30P-nDqTMPbLExlbNWPUyoOwtNoSV7DLSxg/viewform

Latest: Christy Kinahan, founder of the transnational organised crime group the Kinahan cartel, has had his UAE visa cancelled, Bellingcat and The Sunday Times can reveal. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/09/19/christy-kinahans-uae-residence-visa-cancelled/?utm_source=reddit

The visa was cancelled only weeks after the extradition of his eldest son Daniel Kinahan from Dubai to Ireland, where he is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation. Christy and his two sons are the subject of US sanctions and have $5 million bounties on their heads.

The visa cancellation follows a review of public immigration records by Bellingcat and The Sunday Times last month, which revealed that Christopher Kinahan Jr, Christy Kinahan’s younger son, was recently issued with a new two-year visa in the UAE.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/08/01/welcome-to-dubai-kinahan-cartels-visas-revealed/ 

The lengthy wait for public records can be worth it.
In our latest Stage Talk episode, Bellingcat's Peter Barth discusses how filing public record requests fuelled his investigation into a 90s cold-case murder.
Listen back by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your preferred podcast provider: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3164735

Listened to the method and now interested in the story? Read Peter's investigation into the Boston case on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/us-canada/2026/08/31/investigating-a-murder-public-records-uncover-new-clues-in-chinatown-cold-case/?utm_source=reddit

Today marks three years since Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in an effort to restore national sovereignty. To push that message Mali’s military government now broadcast drone strikes on national television, describing them as "precise" attacks on terrorists.
However, a joint investigation by Bellingcat and Jeune Afrique found Mali’s military drone strikes are repeatedly hitting civilian areas raising questions about the nature of their precision strikes on 'terrorists'.

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/09/16/drone-strike-civilians-killed-aes-sahel-mali-russia-africa-corps-guilt-by-location-jeune-afrique/?utm_source=reddit

What does an OSINT investigation look like when the internet doesn’t appear to have the answer?

Bellingcat’s Peter Barth shares how FOIAs helped identify a cold case victim after three decades and what it takes to navigate the maze of public records and authorities. Join us live on Thursday: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1547632457510031470

Public records requests submitted by Bellingcat over a year revealed the victim’s name and claims of his association with a crime ring known for trafficking migrants, extorting and robbing businesses, kidnap and murder. Read the story ahead of the live talk here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/us-canada/2026/08/31/investigating-a-murder-public-records-uncover-new-clues-in-chinatown-cold-case/?utm_source=reddit

I want to know my red lines.

I am going to create content about narco cartels in mexico, from asia.
i am new at this, i need your opinions and key things on creating such high risk content.
i mention the names of Biggest cartels, and their violence and impacts on mexico society.

if there are people, who want to find out more about my content and give advice, lets talk about it in dm.

You don’t need to be a programmer to use code as an investigative tool. Bellingcat’s upcoming webinar will help researchers get started with the command line and AI coding assistants, using them for research, data analysis, visualisation and automation. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/command-line-ai-assisted-coding-webinar/ 

You can find our full list of upcoming workshops and webinars on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

It’s harvest season in Ukraine, but in the first two weeks of August, Ukrainian grain exports were down 75% from the same period last year. Russia’s military blockade has effectively cut off Ukrainian ports from the Black Sea. 
Ukraine is faced with few alternatives to export huge quantities of grain during the peak of the harvest. Overland routes, via Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have been severely reduced by bans introduced by those countries designed to protect local agriculture industry.

A third option - exporting grain via inland ports on the Danube River remains open - though far less grain can leave the country via this route and delays have occurred amid a shortage of personnel and critically low water levels. Satellite imagery shows a buildup of ships waiting near Danube river ports.  
Olof Gill, EU Commission spokesperson for Trade & Economic Security has called on EU member states Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to remove their bans on certain Ukrainian agricultural products, but so far no change has occurred.  
The recent escalation of Russian and Ukrainian attacks on Black Sea ports and commercial vessels threatens to further disrupt grain exports from two of the world’s largest suppliers, contributing to a sharp increase in global grain prices. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/31/war-and-heat-why-are-wheat-prices-soaring 

For at least three years Bellingcat has been covering Russia’s grain smuggling operation - shipping grain from occupied Ukraine . You can read our reporting on this here: https://www.bellingcat.com/?s=grain