On this day: August 10
Cold War prisoner exchange on Berlin's Glienicke Bridge, 10 August 1962
On 10 August 1962, Western and Eastern authorities carried out a high-profile exchange of detainees on the Glienicke Bridge linking West Berlin and Potsdam, a rare public event in the Cold War behind-the-scenes struggle for intelligence and political leverage.
David Berkowitz Arrested in New York, Ending the 1976–77 'Son of Sam' Killings
On August 10, police arrested David Berkowitz in Yonkers, New York, ending a year-long spate of shootings in New York City attributed to the 'Son of Sam.' The arrest brought relief to a city terrorized by random attacks and initiated a criminal case that shaped law enforcement and legal debates for decades.
Roman Polanski Arrested in Los Angeles on Child Sex Charges
Filmmaker Roman Polanski was arrested in Los Angeles on August 10 on charges related to an alleged sexual offense involving a minor decades earlier; the case revives long-running legal and public controversies surrounding his 1970s plea and departure from the U.S.
David Berkowitz Arrested in New York, Ending 1976–77 'Son of Sam' Killing Spree
On August 10, 1977, David Berkowitz was arrested in Yonkers, New York, accused of a series of shootings in New York City known as the 'Son of Sam' attacks that left six dead and several wounded between 1976 and 1977.
Roman Polanski Arrested in Los Angeles on Child Sex Charges
On August 10, 1977, director Roman Polanski was arrested by Los Angeles police after charges alleging sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl. The arrest led to a high-profile criminal case that divided opinion and had lasting effects on Polanski’s life and career.
Spy Swap on the Glienicke Bridge, 10 August 1962
On 10 August, 1962, the Glienicke Bridge linking West Berlin and Potsdam was the site of a high-profile Cold War prisoner exchange between the United States and the Soviet bloc, trading captured intelligence personnel in a rare, negotiated swap.
France’s Last Execution by Guillotine: 10 August 1977
On 10 August 1977 France carried out the country’s final execution by guillotine, marking the end of a centuries-old method of capital punishment amid growing debate over the death penalty.
1984 Ethiopian Famine Sparks Global Relief Effort
A severe famine that intensified across Ethiopia in 1984, driven by drought, conflict and policy failures, led to mass starvation, large-scale displacement and an international humanitarian response that reshaped media coverage and aid coordination.
France erupts in unrest after police death of young man
In August 2005 nationwide riots erupted in France after the accidental deaths of two young men in Clichy-sous-Bois following a police encounter; the unrest reflected long-standing tensions over policing, marginalization and integration in French suburbs.