Browse events, births, deaths and holidays on May 21 throughout history.
On the afternoon of May 21, 2024, a violent and destructive EF4 tornado tracked across southwestern Iowa, United States, devastating the city of Greenfield. The tornado, known mos…
The Greenfield tornado kills 5 and injures 35 across rural Iowa, United States
On 21 May 2024, a Taiwanese man carried out a stabbing spree directed at passengers on a Taichung MRT train, near Taichung City Hall station. Three people, including the attacker,…
A stabbing spree on the Green line of the Taichung MRT injures four people, including the perpetrator
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, also known as the Ringling Bros. Circus, Ringling Bros., the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Barnum & Bailey, or simply Ringling, is an Amer…
Ringling Bros
On 21 May 2014, a Taiwanese man carried out a stabbing spree targeting random civilians on a Taipei Metro C321 train near Jiangzicui Station, resulting in four deaths and 24 injur…
Random killings occurred on the Bannan Line of the Taipei MRT, killing four and injuring 24
The Qafa e Vishës bus accident occurred on 21 May 2012, at Qafa e Vishës near Himarë, Albania, when a bus plunged 80 metres (260 ft) off a cliff. Most of the victims were students…
A bus accident near Himara, Albania kills 13 people and injures 21 others
On 21 May 2012, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt among groups of Yemeni soldiers rehearsing for the annual Unity Day military parade in Sanaa, Yemen. An 18-year-old so…
A suicide bombing kills more than 120 people in Sanaa, Yemen
Harold Egbert Camping was an American Christian radio broadcaster and evangelist. Beginning in 1958, he served as president of Family Radio, a California-based radio station group…
Radio broadcaster Harold Camping predicted that the world would end on this date
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the Japanese national air and space agency.
JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launches the solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS aboard an H-IIA rocket
The Republic of Montenegro was a constituent federated state of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and then Serbia and Montenegro between 1992 and 2006. The declaration of indepen…
The Republic of Montenegro holds a referendum proposing independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; 55%
A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements. …
The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey
The 2003 Boumerdès earthquake occurred on May 21 at 19:44:21 local time in northern Algeria. The shock had a moment magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme…
The 6
Christiane Marie Taubira is a French politician who served as Minister of Justice of France in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under Presiden…
French Taubira law is enacted, officially recognizing the Atlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity
On May 21, 2000, a British Aerospace BAe-3101 Jetstream 3101 operated by East Coast Aviation Services crashed into mountainous terrain in Bear Creek Township, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsy…
Nineteen people are killed in a plane crash in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Miami is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second-most populous city proper in Florida, with a population of 442,241 at the 2020 census. The Miami metropolita…
In Miami, five abortion clinics are attacked by a butyric acid attacker
Suharto was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the second president of Indonesia from 1967 to 1998. He is the longest serving president of Indonesia at 31…
President Suharto of Indonesia resigns following the killing of students from Trisakti University earlier that week by s
MV Bukoba was a Lake Victoria ferry that carried passengers and cargo along Tanzania's Lake Victoria between the Tanzanian ports of Bukoba and Mwanza City. It also served the regu…
The ferry MV Bukoba sinks in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1,000
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a Catholi…
The seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine that were abducted on March 27 are killed under uncertain circumstances
The Democratic Republic of Yemen, was a short-lived state that fought against the mainland Yemen in the 1994 Yemeni Civil War. It was declared in May 1994 and covered all of the f…
The Democratic Republic of Yemen unsuccessfully attempts to secede from the Republic of Yemen; a war breaks out
John William Carson was an American television host, comedian, and writer best known as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992).
After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode and last featuring guests (Robin Williams and Bette Midler
The prime minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Council of Ministers, despite th…
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a female suicide bomber near Madras