Homeland Security News

At least four people died when a nearly nude gunman opened fire at a Waffle House restaurant near Nashville, Tennessee early Sunday, and police were issuing murder warrants as they hunted for the suspect.

The death toll could have been higher if not for fast action by a 29-year-old “hero” who snatched away the shooter’s AR-15 assault-type rifle, likely saving many more lives, said Don Aaron, spokesman for the Metropolitan Nashville Police.

Police identified Travis Reinking, 29, of Morton, Illinois who was believed to live near the restaurant, as a suspect in the carnage. They said the gunman’s vehicle was registered to him and a shirtless man wearing pants believed to be Reinking was spotted in woods near the restaurant.

Read more:  Reuters

The Latest on the violence in Afghanistan (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

Afghan officials say the toll from a suicide bombing in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State group has risen to 57 dead and 119 wounded.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majro confirmed the toll of Sunday’s attack, in which the bomber targeted a voter registration center in the capital. IS claimed the attack, saying it targeted Shiite “apostates.”

Both IS and the more well-established Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent years.

4:45 p.m.

Afghan officials say the toll from a suicide bombing in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State group has risen to 48 dead and 112 wounded.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majro confirmed the toll from Sunday’s attack, in which the bomber targeted a voter registration center in the capital. IS claimed the attack, saying it targeted Shiite “apostates.”

Both IS and the more well-established Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent years.

Read more:  AP

Two Boko Haram commanders and a women leader of the terror group have surrendered to Nigerian troops as the military intensifies efforts to capture remaining terrorists in the country's northeast region.

In a statement on Saturday, Nigeria's military commander in the northeast Rogers Nicholas said the group's physician and some children of the terrorists also surrendered to troops during operations in the past week.

Nicholas said the Boko Haram fighters voluntarily surrendered, noting that the move was acceptable under the Safe Corridor Scheme initiated by the Nigerian government to encourage terrorists to lay down their arms.

Read more:  Xinhua

Israel's defence minister has dismissed suggestions that spy agency Mossad had assassinated a Palestinian lecturer who was shot dead in Malaysia on Saturday.

Avigdor Lieberman said it was likely that Fadi al-Batsh, 35, was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute.

Two men on a motorbike fired 10 shots, killing the Hamas member on a street in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

His family has accused Mossad of being behind the killing.

Mr Lieberman told Israeli radio that the scientist was a rocket expert and "no saint".

"He wasn't involved with improving the electricity grid or infrastructure and water. We have heard the announcements by the heads of the Hamas taking responsibility for the man, explaining he was involved with the production of rockets, with improving the rockets' accuracy," he is quoted as saying by Haaretz newspaper.

Asked when he had heard about the killing, he said: "We heard about it in the news. There's a tradition at this point among terrorist organisations of blaming Israel for every settling of accounts.

Read more:  BBC News