2015⚡ Event
Mozambique funeral beer poisoning
Contaminated beer served at a funeral in Tete Province, Mozambique, killed 75 people and made at least 230 others ill.
disastermedicine
What Happened in 2015?
Explore 96 historical moments from 2015 — 44 events, 1 birthdays, and 51 notable deaths.
Events in 2015(44)
2015⚡ Event
Hypercacher kosher supermarket siege
A hostage situation occurred at a Jewish market in Vincennes, related to the Charlie Hebdo shooting.
law
2015⚡ Event
Los Llanos Air Base Crash
A jet fighter crashed at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others.
disasterwar
2015⚡ Event
TransAsia Airways Flight 235 crash
Shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan Airport, the crew of TransAsia Airways Flight 235 shut down the wrong engine in response to a flameout, leading to a crash that resulted in 43 deaths.
disastertechnology
2015⚡ Event
Murder of Özgecan Aslan
Turkish student Özgecan Aslan was murdered during a rape attempt, sparking mass demonstrations across the country after her body was discovered two days later.
lawpolitics
2015⚡ Event
Uherský Brod restaurant shooting
A gunman opened fire in a restaurant in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic, killing eight people before committing suicide.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Boris Nemtsov assassinated
Russian statesman and politician Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, was assassinated in central Moscow.
politics
2015⚡ Event
X Factor New Zealand Judges Fired
Natalia Kills and Willy Moon were fired from The X Factor New Zealand on March 16, 2015, after controversial comments to a contestant.
entertainment
2015⚡ Event
Bardo National Museum Attack
Gunmen attacked the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia, resulting in the deaths of 24 people.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Germanwings Flight 9525 crash
The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 deliberately crashed the aircraft in the French Alps on March 24, 2015. All 150 people on board were killed in the mass murder-suicide.
disasterlaw
2015⚡ Event
Himeji Castle re-opens
Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Japan's largest castle, re-opened after extensive restoration.
2015⚡ Event
Mogadishu Hotel Siege Ends
A siege by al-Shabaab militants on a Mogadishu hotel ended, with Somali Armed Forces recapturing the premises. The attack killed at least 20 people.
warpolitics
2015⚡ Event
Garissa University College attack
Gunmen attacked Garissa University College in Kenya, killing 148 people and wounding 79 others.
disasterwar
2015⚡ Event
Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary
Six elderly men burgled a safe-deposit facility in Hatton Garden, London, and stole items worth up to an estimated £14 million.
lawdisaster
2015⚡ Event
Western Kentucky University Swimming and Diving Suspension
Western Kentucky University announced a five-year suspension of their swimming and diving programs due to a hazing scandal.
sportslaw
2015⚡ Event
Freddie Gray Dies in Police Custody
Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American, died of injuries sustained while in the custody of the Baltimore Police Department.
politicslaw
2015⚡ Event
Nepal earthquake
Nepal was struck by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, killing more than 8,000 people.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Bali Nine Executions
The ringleaders of the Bali Nine were executed in Indonesia for drug smuggling. They were caught attempting to smuggle heroin to Australia.
law
2015⚡ Event
Malta Parliament moves to new building
The Parliament of Malta moved from the Grandmaster's Palace to the purpose-built Parliament House. This event occurred on May 3, 2015.
politics
2015⚡ Event
Refugio Oil Spill
A corroded pipeline near Refugio State Beach, California, spilled 142,800 gallons of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Islamic State seizes Palmyra
Islamic State militants entered the ancient city of Palmyra. This marked a significant territorial gain for the group in Syria.
war
2015⚡ Event
Dongfang zhi Xing capsizes
The river cruise ship Dongfang zhi Xing capsized in the Yangtze, resulting in 442 deaths in China's worst peacetime maritime disaster.
disasterexploration
2015⚡ Event
Charleston Church Shooting
A white supremacist committed a mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people during a prayer service.
politicslaw
2015⚡ Event
Obergefell v. Hodges
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
lawpolitics
2015⚡ Event
Corn starch dust explosion in Taiwan
Ignition of corn starch caused a dust fire at a water park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, killing 15 people and injuring more than 400 others.
disasterlaw
2015⚡ Event
Indonesian Air Force plane crash
An Indonesian Air Force military transport aircraft crashed near a residential neighborhood in Medan, killing 139 people.
disasterwar
2015⚡ Event
Suruç bombing
A suicide attack in Suruç, Turkey, claimed by ISIL, killed 34 people and injured 104 others.
war
2015⚡ Event
Gold King Mine spill
The US EPA accidentally caused a spill of 3 million gallons of mine waste water near Silverton, Colorado.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Assassination of Shuja Khanzada
Suicide bombers assassinated Pakistani politician Shuja Khanzada and killed at least 21 others at his home in Attock District.
politicswar
2015⚡ Event
Thalys train attack
Passengers on a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris subdued an attacker who attempted a mass shooting.
wardisaster
2015⚡ Event
Shoreham Airshow crash
A former military aircraft crashed at an airshow at Shoreham Airport in southern England, killing eleven people.
disasterwar
2015⚡ Event
Journalists Murdered on Live Television
Two American journalists were murdered on live television while conducting an interview in Moneta, Virginia.
2015⚡ Event
Elizabeth II becomes longest-reigning UK monarch
Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria.
politics
2015⚡ Event
Petlawad explosion
An explosion involving illegally stored mining detonators in Petlawad, India, killed 104 people and injured more than 150 others.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
First observation of gravitational waves
Physicists of the LIGO and Virgo projects first observed gravitational waves on September 14, 2015. Their existence was predicted by Henri Poincaré in 1905.
sciencetechnology
2015⚡ Event
Trollhättan school stabbing
A sword-wielding man attacked students and teachers at a high school in Trollhättan, Sweden. The attack resulted in three deaths, making it Sweden's deadliest school attack.
disasterlaw
2015⚡ Event
Hurricane Patricia
Hurricane Patricia, the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Western Hemisphere, peaked with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph south of Mexico.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Lam Wing-kee abducted
Lam Wing-kee, owner of Causeway Bay Books, was abducted by Chinese authorities. His bookstore published political books banned in mainland China.
politics
2015⚡ Event
Paris attacks
Coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris perpetrated by the Islamic State killed 130 people and injured 413 others.
warpolitics
2015⚡ Event
Brussels Lockdown
The Belgian government imposed a four-day security lockdown in Brussels due to information about potential terrorist attacks.
lawdisaster
2015⚡ Event
Russian Su-24 shot down by Turkish jet
A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft was shot down by a Turkish fighter jet on November 24, 2015, after allegedly straying into Turkish airspace.
war
2015⚡ Event
San Bernardino Mass Shooting
A married couple carried out a mass shooting at a Christmas party in San Bernardino, California. They died in a shootout with police after fleeing the scene.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Akatsuki enters orbit around Venus
The JAXA space probe Akatsuki entered into orbit around Venus to study the planet's atmosphere. This occurred five years after its first attempt failed.
spacescience
2015⚡ Event
Dallas tornado outbreak
A violent tornado moves through several suburbs of Dallas, Texas, killing ten and injuring almost 500 others. It was the deadliest tornado to ever hit Texas during the month of December.
disaster
Born in 2015(1)
2015🎂 Birth
Princess Charlotte of Wales
Princess Charlotte of Wales was born on May 2, 2015. She is third in line to the British throne.
politics
Deaths in 2015(51)
2015🕊️ Death
Sheppard Frere
Sheppard Frere was an English historian and archaeologist.
scienceliterature
2015🕊️ Death
Vlada Divljan
Vlada Divljan, a Serbian singer-songwriter and guitarist, died. He was born in 1958.
musicarts
2015🕊️ Death
Geoff Duke
English-Manx motorcycle racer Geoff Duke died on May 1, 2015. He was born in 1923.
sports
2015🕊️ Death
Vafa Guluzade
Azerbaijani political scientist, academic, and diplomat Vafa Guluzade died on May 1, 2015. He was born in 1940.
politicsphilosophy
2015🕊️ Death
María Elena Velasco
Mexican actress, singer, director, and screenwriter María Elena Velasco died on May 1, 2015. She was born in 1940.
entertainmentarts
2015🕊️ Death
Frank DiPascali
Frank DiPascali was an American businessman. He was born in 1956.
economics
2015🕊️ Death
John Dixon
John Dixon was an Australian-American author and illustrator. He was born in 1929.
literaturearts
2015🕊️ Death
Joan Kirner
Joan Kirner was an Australian educator and politician, and the 42nd Premier of Victoria.
politics
2015🕊️ Death
Vincent Bugliosi
American lawyer and author, known as the prosecuting attorney in the Tate–LaBianca murders case.
lawliterature
2015🕊️ Death
Ludvík Vaculík
Czech journalist and author, noted for The Two Thousand Words which inspired the Prague Spring.
literaturepolitics
2015🕊️ Death
Buddy Boudreaux
Buddy Boudreaux, an American saxophonist and clarinet player, died on June 13, 2015. He was born in 1917.
musicentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Darryl Hamilton
Darryl Hamilton, American baseball player and sportscaster, died. He was born in 1964.
sportsentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Miguel Facussé Barjum dies
Miguel Facussé Barjum, Honduran businessman, has died.
economics
2015🕊️ Death
Wan Li
Chinese politician and former Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China.
politics
2015🕊️ Death
Shigeko Kubota
Shigeko Kubota, a Japanese-American sculptor and director, died. She was born in 1937.
arts
2015🕊️ Death
Antony Holland
Antony Holland was an English-Canadian actor, director, and playwright.
entertainmentarts
2015🕊️ Death
Julian Bond
Julian Bond, an American academic, civil rights leader, and politician, died. He was born in 1940.
politics
2015🕊️ Death
Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Craig, an American ballet dancer and actress, died. She was born in 1937.
entertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Dickie Moore
Dickie Moore, an American actor, died on September 7, 2015. He was born in 1925.
entertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Annemarie Bostroem
Annemarie Bostroem, a German poet, playwright, and songwriter, has died. She was born in 1922.
artsliteraturemusic
2015🕊️ Death
Norman Farberow
American psychologist and academic. He was born in 1918.
sciencephilosophy
2015🕊️ Death
Eudóxia Maria Froehlich
Eudóxia Maria Froehlich was a Brazilian zoologist known for her research on freshwater mollusks.
science
2015🕊️ Death
Sidney Phillips
Sidney Phillips was an American soldier, physician, and author, known for his experiences in World War II.
warmedicineliterature
2015🕊️ Death
Chantal Akerman
Belgian-French actress, director, and producer died. She was born in 1950.
artsentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Gene Amdahl
Gene Amdahl, an American computer scientist, physicist, and engineer, founded the Amdahl Corporation. He was born in 1922.
sciencetechnology
2015🕊️ Death
John Leahy
John Leahy, an English lawyer and diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Australia, has died. He was born in 1928.
politicslaw
2015🕊️ Death
Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi
Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi, an Iranian poet and songwriter, has died. He was born in 1926.
artsmusicliterature
2015🕊️ Death
Mark Behr
Mark Behr, a Tanzanian-South African author and academic, died on November 27, 2015. He was born in 1963.
literature
2015🕊️ Death
Gladstone Anderson
Gladstone Anderson, a Jamaican singer and pianist, has died. He was born in 1934.
musicentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland, an American singer-songwriter, has died. He was born in 1967.
musicentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Ko Chun-hsiung
Taiwanese actor, director, and politician Ko Chun-hsiung died on December 6, 2015. He was born in 1945.
entertainmentpolitics
2015🕊️ Death
Liu Juying
Chinese general and politician Liu Juying died on December 6, 2015. He was born in 1917.
politicswar
2015🕊️ Death
Nicholas Smith
British actor Nicholas Smith died on December 6, 2015. He was born in 1934.
entertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Soshana Afroyim
Soshana Afroyim, an Austrian painter, has died. She was born in 1927.
arts
Dates in 2015
January 9January 26January 31February 4February 11February 24February 26February 27March 5March 12March 16March 18March 24March 27March 28April 2April 14April 19April 25April 29May 1May 2May 4May 7May 19May 21June 1June 6June 7June 13June 17June 20June 21June 23June 24June 25June 26June 27June 30July 15July 20July 23July 29August 5August 15August 16August 17August 21August 22August 23August 26September 7September 9September 10September 12September 14September 26October 5October 22October 23October 24October 26October 30November 10November 13November 17November 21November 24November 27December 2December 3December 6December 7December 9December 26
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 2015?
- 2015 saw 96 notable historical moments, including 44 events, 1 famous birthdays, and 51 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 2015?
- Key events of 2015 include: Mozambique funeral beer poisoning, Hypercacher kosher supermarket siege, Los Llanos Air Base Crash.
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