Portal:Current events/2003 February 20

February 20, 2003 (Thursday)

The Station nightclub fire: A fire started by pyrotechnics set-off by Great White, a rock band playing a nightclub in West Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island, kills at least 96 and injures nearly 200, with 35 in critical condition. Fatalities from burn injuries are expected to increase.^[1]
University of South Florida computer engineering professor Dr. Sami Al-Arian was arrested by the FBI after he and seven others were indicted on 50 terrorism-related charges. United States Attorney General John Ashcroft alleged at a news conference that Al-Arian is the North American leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.