Discover · History

On this day — April 6

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

Observed today

Public holiday

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is observed in Canada. Regional observance.

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2018

Milestone

A bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team collides with a semi-truck in Saskatchewan

Canada, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.

2017

Milestone

U.S. military launches 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in Syria

Russia describes the strikes as an "aggression", adding they significantly damage US-Russia ties.

2012

Milestone

Azawad declares itself independent from the Republic of Mali.

2011

Milestone

In San Fernando

Tamaulipas, Mexico, over 193 victims of Los Zetas were exhumed from several mass graves.

2010

Milestone

Maoist rebels kill 76 CRPF officers in Dantewada district

India.

2009

Disaster

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila

Italy, killing 307.

2008

Milestone

The 2008 Egyptian general strike starts led by Egyptian workers later to be adopted by April 6 Youth Movement and Egyptian activists.

2005

Politics

Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes Iraqi president

Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day.

2004

Politics

Rolandas Paksas becomes the first president of Lithuania to be peacefully removed from office by impeachment.

1998

Milestone

Nuclear weapons testing

Pakistan tests medium-range missiles capable of reaching India.

1997

Milestone

In Greene County

Tennessee, the Lillelid murders occur.

1994

Politics

The Rwandan genocide begins when the aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira is shot down.

1992

Politics

The Bosnian War begins.

1985

Politics

Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab.

1984

Milestone

Observed today

Easter Monday

A bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team collides with a semi-truck in Saskatchewan

U.S. military launches 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in Syria

Azawad declares itself independent from the Republic of Mali.

In San Fernando

Maoist rebels kill 76 CRPF officers in Dantewada district

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila

The 2008 Egyptian general strike starts led by Egyptian workers later to be adopted by April 6 Youth Movement and Egyptian activists.

Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes Iraqi president

Rolandas Paksas becomes the first president of Lithuania to be peacefully removed from office by impeachment.

Nuclear weapons testing

In Greene County

The Rwandan genocide begins when the aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira is shot down.

The Bosnian War begins.

Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab.

Members of Cameroon's Republican Guard unsuccessfully attempt to overthrow the government headed by Paul Biya.