Post by ELIZA MARIE CUNNINGHAM on Feb 12, 2014 15:26:22 GMT -5
AMERICA BLINDSIDED BY ATTACK
By Mary Maddox
Tragedy struck in the United States on September 11th, a day which will be forever remembered in infamy. Several airplane attacks were launched, seemingly by a terrorist group. The biggest target hit was the Twin Towers located in New York City. An estimated total of 2,000 muggles and wizards were killed when two planes collided with the towers.
The tragedy has left the nation in turmoil. While the muggles firmly believe a terrorist group name al-Qaeda are behind the attacks, several sources have suggested the culprit(s) could be in the wizarding world. Specifically, it has been speculated that the Diagon Alley bomber(s) could be behind the multiple attacks.
Others believe the incident could have a completely different source behind it. Could the American Ministry be behind the recent attacks? Or even the muggles themselves against each other? Could another muggle war be breaking out? Different conspiracy theories are rampant since the attacks occurred.
While family members mourn their loss, the American Ministry of Magic claims to be working tirelessly with the muggles to find the culprit(s) behind the attacks. The British Ministry has offered to help in any way they can. As far as we know, the American Ministry has turned down that offer. Let us hope their pride does not get in the way of solving this tragic mystery.
DIAGON ALLEY SHOPS REBUILDING
By Mary Maddox
The Diagon Alley bombings left behind broken hearts and a multitude of unanswered questions. There is some good news to be had. The stores damaged or destroyed by the bombing are working on rebuilding.
We have an update on their statuses thus far. Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes is slowly rebuilding. They are still selling items, by appointment only, as they rebuild their shop to its former glory. They hope to reopen their store fully in November.
Madame Malkin's currently runs out of her house, located in Surrey, while her shop is being rebuilt. The reopening date will be slightly longer due to the damage to her shop. The tentative reopening will be sometime in December.
Lastly, Flourish and Blotts has mostly rebuilt, but the bombing destroyed most of their stock. The process to restore their stock is slow going, but the good news is they plan on reopening in October.
While the culprit has not been caught, the Ministry assures everyone Diagon Alley is safe to visit. With the Ministry on high alert, sources believe sales will pick back up in Diagon Alley once all the stores have returned to their normal routines.
DIAGON ALLEY FIASCO LEADS
Four months later and the Ministry still isn't close to finding the perpetrator of the events in Diagon Alley at the beginning of May.
It started as a simple festival but ended in chaos when three explosions destroyed four shops and killed tens of people.
The Ministry has released a list of five main suspects.
Lucius Malfoy is one of them. He may be a Hogwarts Governor now, but he has been known to support You-Know-Who multiple times, even after renouncing those ways. Could he be up to his old tricks again?
Lilith Channing is another. She was a known Death Eater Supporter in the past, though she says her alibi is tight. She apparently couldn't get out of the lab that day, but we know how talented she is - she easily could have confounded her co-workers or made a distraction to get out for an hour and get to Diagon Alley.
Giovanna Nero is the daughter of a previous Death Eater and briefly was one in her last year of school. Though she renounced those ways, she was seen being suspiciously calm at the festival in the middle of the chaos.
Adam van Vliet, otherwise known as 'The Reaper', escaped Azkaban the month before the Festival. Who knows what he's capable of or what his plan was when he escaped. He has yet to be found still.
Aaron Lathen, a previous professor of Hogwarts and a Death Eater, fled the country after the Battle of Hogwarts. He has never been found or questioned about his part in the war. Could he have gotten homesick and come back to wreak revenge?
If you have any information or were at the Festival and witnessed anything at all, please contact the Ministry.
