On this day: April 9
Cyclist Survives Lightning Strike During April Ride
On April 9, 2002, a cyclist was struck by lightning while riding a bicycle and survived. The incident drew attention to the unpredictable dangers of lightning for people outdoors and the resilience of those who experience direct strikes.
Cricket XI Arrives at 1990 Match Without Bats
On 9 April 1990 a cricket team turned up to a scheduled fixture without their bats, forcing a postponement and drawing attention to organizational failures rather than on-field skills.
Unexpected Opening at Berlin Wall Lets Crowds Through
On 9 April 1989, a border crossing in Berlin was briefly opened to crowds, allowing East and West Berliners to pass at a moment that foreshadowed larger changes later that year. The event was sudden, limited in scope, and occurred amid growing pressure on East Germany.
Europe’s First Public Crematorium Opens in Milan, 1876
On April 9, 1876, Milan inaugurated what is generally recognized as Europe’s first public crematorium at the Cimitero Monumentale’s Tempio Crematorio, marking a shift in funeral practice amid debates over sanitation, religion, and modernity.
April 9, 1944: U.S. authorities detain members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in a landmark mass arrest
On April 9, 1944, federal agents arrested dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in a notable wartime enforcement action tied to draft-law violations and claims of religious exemption.
The 1978 ‘Copycat’ Panic: New York’s First Widely Noted Case of Imitative Crime Hysteria
On April 9, 1978, a series of stabbings linked by media coverage and public fear in New York City produced one of the earliest widely noted modern episodes of copycat crime hysteria, as authorities and journalists debated whether press attention was fueling imitation.