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On This Day in History — April 2
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Highlights of April 2
- 2015 — Six elderly men burgled a safe-deposit facility in Hatton Garden, London, and stole items worth up to an estimated £14 million. Read more
- 2015 — Gunmen attacked Garissa University College in Kenya, killing 148 people and wounding 79 others. Read more
- 2012 — A gunman shot at people inside Oikos University, a Korean Christian college in Oakland, California, leaving seven people dead and three injured. Read more
- 2002 — Second Intifada: Palestinian militants sought refuge from advancing Israeli forces in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, beginning a month-long siege. Read more
- 1992 — Bosnian War: At least 48 civilians were massacred in the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more
- 1992 — John Gotti, the head of the Gambino crime family of New York City, was convicted of racketeering, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, loansharking, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, and tax evasion. Read more
- 1982 — Argentine special forces invaded the Falkland Islands, sparking the Falklands War against the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1979 — Spores of anthrax were accidentally released from a military research facility near the city of Sverdlovsk, causing at least 68 deaths. Read more
- 1968 — 2001: A Space Odyssey, the epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. Read more
- 1911 — The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted the first national census of the country. Read more
- 1871 — Creatures of Impulse, by W. S. Gilbert (pictured), premiered at the Court Theatre in London. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: On the third attempt, Union forces captured Petersburg, Virginia, although Confederate officials and most of their remaining troops were able to escape. Read more
- 1860 — The first modern Italian Parliament is opened in Turin, following the annexation of Central Italy into the Kingdom of Sardinia. Read more
- 1513 — Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León sighted land in North America, naming the area La Florida. Read more
Events
- 2025 — Liberation Day tariffs: U.S. President Donald Trump announces sweeping worldwide tariffs. Read more
- 2024 — Viertola school shooting: A 12-year-old pupil is killed and two others injured by a shooter of the same age in Vantaa, Finland. Read more
- 2021 — At least 49 people are killed in a train derailment in Taiwan after a truck accidentally rolls onto the track. Read more
- 2021 — A Capitol Police officer is killed and another injured when an attacker rams his car into a barricade outside the United States Capitol. Read more
- 2020 — COVID-19 pandemic: The total number of confirmed cases reach one million. Read more
- 2015 — Gunmen attack Garissa University College in Kenya, killing at least 148 people and wounding 79 others. Read more
- 2015 — Four men steal items worth up to £200 million from an underground safe deposit facility in London's Hatton Garden area in what has been called the "largest burglary in English legal history." Read more
- 2014 — A spree shooting occurs at the Fort Hood army base in Texas, with four dead, including the gunman, and 16 others injured. Read more
- 2012 — A mass shooting at Oikos University in California leaves seven people dead and three injured. Read more
- 2012 — UTair Flight 120 crashes after takeoff from Roshchino International Airport in Tyumen, Russia, killing 33 and injuring 10. Read more
- 2011 — India wins the Cricket World Cup for the second time in history under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Read more
- 2006 — Over 60 tornadoes break out in the United States; Tennessee is hardest hit with 29 people killed. Read more
- 2004 — Islamist terrorists involved in the 11 March 2004 Madrid attacks attempt to bomb the Spanish high-speed train AVE near Madrid; the attack is thwarted. Read more
- 2002 — Israeli forces surround the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, into which armed Palestinians had retreated. Read more
- 1992 — In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison. Read more
- 1992 — Forty-two civilians are massacred in the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more
- 1991 — Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she succeeds William Vander Zalm (who had resigned) as Premier of British Columbia. Read more
- 1989 — Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Havana, Cuba, to meet with Fidel Castro in an attempt to mend strained relations. Read more
- 1986 — Alabama governor George Wallace, a former segregationist, best known for the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door", announces that he will not seek a fifth four-year term and will retire from public life upon the end of his term in January 1987. Read more
- 1982 — Falklands War: Argentina invades the Falkland Islands. Read more
- 1980 — United States President Jimmy Carter signs the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act. Read more
- 1979 — A Soviet bio-warfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. Read more
- 1976 — Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest. Read more
- 1975 — Vietnam War: Thousands of civilian refugees flee from Quảng Ngãi Province in front of advancing North Vietnamese troops. Read more
- 1969 — LOT Polish Airlines Flight 165 crashes into the Polica mountain near Zawoja, Poland, killing 53. Read more
- 1930 — After the mysterious death of Empress Zewditu, Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia. Read more
- 1921 — The Autonomous Government of Khorasan, a military government encompassing the modern state of Iran, is established. Read more
- 1917 — American entry into World War I: President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war on Germany. Read more
- 1912 — The ill-fated RMS Titanic begins sea trials. Read more
- 1911 — The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducts the country's first national census. Read more
- 1885 — Canadian Cree warriors attack the village of Frog Lake, killing nine. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: Defeat at the Third Battle of Petersburg forces the Army of Northern Virginia and the Confederate government to abandon Richmond, Virginia. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: The largest in a series of Southern bread riots occurs in Richmond, Virginia. Read more
- 1801 — French Revolutionary Wars: In the Battle of Copenhagen a British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily assembled, smaller, mostly-volunteer Dano-Norwegian Navy at high cost, forcing Denmark out of the Second League of Armed Neutrality. Read more
- 1800 — Ludwig van Beethoven leads the premiere of his First Symphony in Vienna. Read more
- 1792 — The Coinage Act is passed by Congress, establishing the United States Mint. Read more
- 1755 — Commodore William James captures the Maratha fortress of Suvarnadurg on the west coast of India. Read more
- 1725 — J. S. Bach's cantata Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6, is first performed in Leipzig on Easter Monday. Read more
- 1513 — Having spotted land on March 27, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León comes ashore on what is now the U.S. state of Florida, landing somewhere between the modern city of St. Augustine and the mouth of the St. Johns River. Read more
- 1285 — Election of Pope Honorius IV following the death of Pope Martin IV. Read more
- 1107 — Seljuq sultan Muhammad I Tapar begins the siege of Shahdiz, a fortress of the Nizari Ismailis. Read more
Born on April 2
- 2007 — Brenda Fruhvirtová, Czech tennis player Read more
- 2005 — Adrián Liso, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2004 — Diana Shnaider, Russian tennis player Read more
- 2002 — Emma Myers, American actress Read more
- 2000 — Rodrigo Riquelme, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2000 — Josip Stanišić, Croatian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Dillon Bassett, American race car driver Read more
- 1997 — Abdelhak Nouri, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1997 — Austin Riley, American baseball player Read more
- 1996 — Zach Bryan, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1996 — André Onana, Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1995 — Zack Steffen, American soccer player Read more
- 1994 — Pascal Siakam, Cameroonian basketball player Read more
- 1993 — Keshorn Walcott, Trinidadian javelin thrower Read more
- 1993 — Bruno Zuculini, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1991 — Quavo, American rapper Read more
- 1990 — Yevgeniya Kanayeva, Russian gymnast Read more
- 1990 — Miralem Pjanić, Bosnian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Amr El Solia, Egyptian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Ellen Adarna, Filipino actress, model and public figure Read more
- 1988 — Renée Good, American writer, poet and shooting victim (died 2026) Read more
- 1988 — Jesse Plemons, American actor Read more
- 1987 — Pablo Aguilar, Paraguayan footballer Read more
- 1987 — Shane Lowry, Irish Professional Golfer, winner of the 2019 Open Championship and European Team Member for the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cups Read more
- 1986 — Ibrahim Afellay, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1986 — Andris Biedriņš, Latvian basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Drew Van Acker, American actor, model and producer Read more
- 1985 — Thom Evans, Zimbabwean-Scottish rugby player Read more
- 1985 — Stéphane Lambiel, Swiss figure skater Read more
- 1984 — Engin Atsür, Turkish basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Nóra Barta, Hungarian diver Read more
- 1984 — Jérémy Morel, French footballer Read more
- 1984 — Miguel Ángel Moyá, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1983 — Arthur Boka, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Maksym Mazuryk, Ukrainian pole vaulter Read more
- 1982 — Marco Amelia, Italian footballer Read more
- 1982 — David Ferrer, Spanish tennis player Read more
- 1981 — Michael Clarke, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1981 — Kapil Sharma, Indian stand-up comedian, television presenter and actor Read more
- 1980 — Avi Benedi, Israeli singer and songwriter Read more
Died on April 2
- 2025 — Khamtai Siphandone, Laotian politician, 4th President of Laos (born 1924) Read more
- 2024 — Jerry Abbott, American country music songwriter and record producer (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — John Barth, American writer (born 1930) Read more
- 2024 — Maryse Condé, Guadeloupean novelist, critic, and playwright (born 1934) Read more
- 2024 — Christopher Durang, American playwright (born 1949) Read more
- 2024 — Larry Lucchino, American attorney and baseball executive (born 1945) Read more
- 2024 — John Sinclair, American poet (born 1941) Read more
- 2024 — Juan Vicente Pérez, Venezuelan supercentenarian (born 1909) Read more
- 2022 — Estelle Harris, American actress and comedian (born 1928) Read more
- 2021 — Simon Bainbridge, British composer (born 1952) Read more
- 2017 — Alma Delia Fuentes, Mexican actress (born 1937) Read more
- 2016 — Gallieno Ferri, Italian comic book artist and illustrator (born 1929) Read more
- 2016 — Robert Abajyan, Armenian sergeant (born 1996) Read more
- 2015 — Manoel de Oliveira, Portuguese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1908) Read more
- 2015 — Robert H. Schuller, American pastor and author (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Steve Stevaert, Belgian businessman and politician, Governor of Limburg (born 1954) Read more
- 2014 — Urs Widmer, Swiss author and playwright (born 1938) Read more
- 2013 — Fred, French author and illustrator (born 1931) Read more
- 2013 — Jesús Franco, Spanish director, screenwriter, producer, and actor (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Milo O'Shea, Irish-American actor (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Jesús Aguilarte, Venezuelan captain and politician (born 1959) Read more
- 2012 — Elizabeth Catlett, American-Mexican sculptor and illustrator (born 1915) Read more
- 2012 — Mauricio Lasansky, American graphic designer and academic (born 1914) Read more
- 2011 — John C. Haas, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1918) Read more
- 2010 — Chris Kanyon, American wrestler (born 1970) Read more
- 2009 — Albert Sanschagrin, Canadian bishop (born 1911) Read more
- 2009 — Bud Shank, American saxophonist and flute player (born 1926) Read more
- 2008 — Yakup Satar, Turkish World War I veteran (born 1898) Read more
- 2007 — Henry L. Giclas, American astronomer and academic (born 1910) Read more
- 2006 — Lloyd Searwar, Guyanese anthologist and diplomat (born 1925) Read more
- 2005 — Lillian O'Donnell, American crime novelist (born 1926) Read more
- 2005 — Pope John Paul II (born 1920) Read more
- 2004 — John Argyris, Greek computer scientist, engineer, and academic (born 1913) Read more
- 2003 — Edwin Starr, American singer-songwriter (born 1942) Read more
- 2002 — Levi Celerio, Filipino composer and songwriter (born 1910) Read more
- 2002 — John R. Pierce, American engineer and author (born 1910) Read more
- 2001 — Charles Daudelin, Canadian sculptor and painter (born 1920) Read more
- 1998 — Rob Pilatus, American-German singer-songwriter (born 1965) Read more
- 1997 — Tomoyuki Tanaka, Japanese director and producer (born 1910) Read more
- 1995 — Hannes Alfvén, Swedish physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1908) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Abundius of Como; Christian feast day:
Amphianus of Lycia; Christian feast day:
Æbbe the Younger; Christian feast day:
Bronach of Glen-Seichis (Irish martyrology); Christian feast day:
Blessed Elisabetta Vendramini; Christian feast day:
Francis of Paola; Christian feast day:
Francisco Coll Guitart; Christian feast day:
Henry Budd (Anglican Church of Canada); Christian feast day:
Blessed Laura Evangelista Alvarado Cardozo; Christian feast day:
Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky; Christian feast day:
Nicetius of Lyon; Christian feast day:
Theodosia of Tyre; Christian feast day:
Urban of Langres; Christian feast day:
Blessed Vilmos Apor; Christian feast day:
April 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Children's Book Day (International); Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand); Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus); World Autism Awareness Day (International); Malvinas Day (Argentina)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “April 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.