Major Events of May 2013: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 2013 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of May 2013: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 May 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation: In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, three additional suspects were arrested. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev reportedly told detectives that his motivation was to defend Islam in response to U.S. military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- 02 May 2013 Syrian Army Massacre in al-Bayda: Syrian Army conducts a brutal raid on al-Bayda, resulting in approximately 100 civilian casualties during the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
- 03 May 2013 Savar Building Collapse in Bangladesh: The tragic Savar building collapse in Bangladesh resulted in a devastating death toll of 547, highlighting critical safety issues in the country's garment industry and sparking international concern about worker conditions.
- 04 May 2013 Israeli Airstrike and Syrian Civil War Violence: Israeli forces conducted a second airstrike in two days, targeting a sophisticated rocket shipment being transported from Syria via Hezbollah in Lebanon. Simultaneously, activists reported 77 civilians killed in Baniyas by government forces, which claimed to be fighting 'terrorist' groups.
- 05 May 2013 2013 Savar Building Collapse: Bangladesh's death toll from the catastrophic Rana Plaza factory building collapse rises to 622, marking one of the deadliest industrial accidents in modern history.
- 06 May 2013 Cleveland Kidnapping Survivors Found: Three women who were kidnapped and held captive for over a decade were dramatically rescued in Cleveland, Ohio. The victims, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight, were found alive after years of unimaginable suffering, bringing an end to a long-standing mystery and ordeal.
- 07 May 2013 Delaware Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Governor Jack Markell signs legislation making Delaware the 11th US state to legalize same-sex marriage, continuing the national trend of marriage equality.
- 08 May 2013 Savar Building Collapse Tragedy: The death toll from the Bangladesh factory building collapse rose to 823, marking one of the deadliest industrial accidents in history.
- 09 May 2013 2013 Savar Building Collapse: The Rana Plaza factory collapse in Savar, Bangladesh, resulted in 1,006 fatalities, marking the deadliest industrial and structural disaster in modern history. This tragic event highlighted severe workplace safety issues in the global garment manufacturing industry.
- 10 May 2013 Guatemalan Court Convicts Efrain Rios Montt of Genocide: A Guatemalan court convicted former military leader Efrain Rios Montt of genocide and crimes against humanity, sentencing him to 80 years in prison - a landmark moment for justice and accountability in Guatemala's troubled history.
- 11 May 2013 Pakistan General Election: Pakistan held a significant general election marked by high tension and potential violence. Despite threats from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and 24 election-related deaths, the country experienced a record voter turnout. Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-N declared victory, though without securing a parliamentary majority.
- 12 May 2013 Savar Building Collapse Tragedy: The devastating Savar Building Collapse in Bangladesh has claimed 1,126 lives, making it the third-worst industrial accident in human history. The death toll continues to rise as many victims remain missing.
- 13 May 2013 Kermit Gosnell Convicted of Infant Murders and Manslaughter: American physician Kermit Gosnell was found guilty in Pennsylvania of murdering three infants born alive during attempted abortions, involuntary manslaughter of a woman during an abortion procedure, and multiple other serious criminal charges.
- 14 May 2013 UK Conservative Party Proposes EU Referendum Bill: The British Conservative Party published a Draft European Union (Referendum Bill) aimed at holding a referendum on the UK's EU membership by 2017, signaling a potential pivotal moment in British-European relations.
- 15 May 2013 Eurozone Economic Stagnation: The Eurozone entered its sixth consecutive quarter of recession, with major economies like France, Spain, and Italy experiencing negative growth, while Germany showed minimal economic expansion.
- 16 May 2013 Breakthrough in Stem Cell Research: Scientists successfully cloned human stem cells, a significant milestone in medical research with potential implications for regenerative medicine.
- 17 May 2013 Jorge Rafael Videla's Death: Jorge Rafael Videla, the controversial Argentine president who led the 1976 military coup, died at age 87 while imprisoned in Marcos Paz jail, Buenos Aires.
- 18 May 2013 North Korea Missile Launch: As part of the ongoing 2013 Korean crisis, North Korea launched three short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. Two missiles were fired in the morning and one in the afternoon, escalating regional tensions and demonstrating North Korea's military posturing.
- 19 May 2013 Devastating Midwestern US Tornado Outbreak: A significant and destructive tornado outbreak occurred in the Midwestern United States and lower Great Plains, affecting multiple states including Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. The severe weather system produced 78 tornadoes, with 4 rated EF3 or higher, causing widespread destruction and resulting in 26 fatalities and 229 injuries.
- 20 May 2013 Myanmar President's White House Visit: Myanmar's President Thein Sin made a historic visit to the White House, marking the first visit by a Burmese head of state in 47 years and signaling potential diplomatic normalization.
- 21 May 2013 UK Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes: The House of Commons voted 366-161 to approve the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, marking a significant legislative milestone towards legalizing gay marriage in England and Wales.
- 22 May 2013 Murder of Lee Rigby in London: British Army Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered near the Royal Artillery Barracks in London by two Islamic terrorists, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, in a shocking act of violence that sparked national outrage.
- 23 May 2013 Obama's Counterterrorism Strategy Speech: President Obama delivered a comprehensive speech at the National Defense University outlining the United States' evolving counterterrorism strategy, addressing changing global terrorist threats and the nation's strategic approach.
- 24 May 2013 Rafael Correa Begins Third Presidential Term in Ecuador: Rafael Correa was sworn in for an unprecedented third term as President of Ecuador, signaling continued political stability and his significant influence in the country's governance.
- 25 May 2013 Syrian Civil War Bombardment: In the ongoing Syrian Civil War, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah launched a massive artillery bombardment on the rebel-held city of Al-Qusayr in Homs, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties.
- 26 May 2013 Rocket Attack in Beirut: Two rockets struck Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in the predominantly Shiite suburbs, which also serves as Hezbollah's stronghold.
- 27 May 2013 Sectarian Violence in Baghdad: A devastating wave of bombings targeted Shi'ite neighborhoods across Baghdad, resulting in at least 75 fatalities and over 200 injuries, highlighting the escalating sectarian tensions in Iraq.
- 28 May 2013 EU Lifts Syrian Rebel Arms Embargo: The European Union officially lifts its ban on arming Syrian rebels, signaling a potential shift in international support for opposition forces in the Syrian Civil War.
- 29 May 2013 War Crimes Sentencing at International Tribunal: Jadranko Prlic, a former Bosnian official, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for war crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars.
- 30 May 2013 Syrian Civil War Developments: Multiple significant events in the Syrian conflict: Israeli investigation of potential S-300 missile shipment, critical medical shortage in Qusayr, and reported killings of Western fighters by Assad's forces.
- 31 May 2013 Record-Breaking El Reno Tornado Devastates Oklahoma: A historic tornado with an unprecedented width of 2.6 miles struck near El Reno, Oklahoma, causing significant destruction. The storm resulted in eight fatalities, including three professional storm chasers, and over 150 injuries, marking it as one of the most destructive tornadoes in recent U.S. history.