Latest news with #Zizians
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Anti-Baby Zealot Blows Up IVF Clinic, Accidentally Becoming the Attack's Only Casualty
The second decade of the 21st century has given us a treasure trove of bonkers ideologies and obsessive subcultures. From Marc Andreessen's fanatic Techno-Optimists to the violent rationalist sect of the Zizians, would-be cultists are spoiled for choice in 2025. Now, it seems there's a new one on the scene: the self-described "pro-mortalists." The philosopher Thaddeus Metz, at the University of Pretoria, describes pro-mortalism as the "view that it is often prudent for individuals to kill themselves and often right for them to kill others, even without their consent." On its own, pro-mortalism isn't really viewed as a developed ideology. Rather, it's an idea stemming from a fringe philosophy known as "negative utilitarianism," the principle that we should limit human suffering while maximizing pleasure. That sounds lovely on paper. But in practice, critics of negative utilitarianism like Metz highlight its tendency to lead to anti-natalism — the extremist view that it's wrong to bring new life into the world — and pro-mortalism. The two ideas seem to be used interchangeably by forum philosophers and YouTube theorists, though anti-natalism once had a decent following on Reddit, whose discussions centered around the ethics of bringing children into the world without their consent. Among its pro-mortalism's acolytes was Guy Edward Bartkus, the 25-year-old man who recently carried out a terrorist attack on a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. Late last Saturday, Bartkus detonated a car bomb outside of the American Reproductive Centers building, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic — a medical practice that helps people get pregnant using various biotech tricks, basically — east of Los Angeles. Bartkus died while attempting to record and upload the attack, while four others were injured, according to NBC. The clinic's embryos were undamaged, and IVF treatment is reportedly continuing this week. Though his footage didn't make it to the web, authorities found writings as well as a pro-mortalism website that are shedding light on Bartkus' radical anti-life beliefs. "Welcome! Here, you can download the recorded stream of my suicide and bombing of an IVF clinic!" the website greets. In a section labeled "possible FAQs," Bartkus makes his case for pro-mortalism, addressing the audience he seemed to anticipate would flock to his site after the attack. "Understand your death is already a guarantee, and you can thank your parents for that one," Bartkus wrote. "All a pro-mortalist is saying is let's make it happen sooner rather than later (and preferably peaceful rather than some disease or accident), to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings." Bartkus is notably cautious to distance himself from nihilism — an older and better-established school of thought — calling pro-mortalism the "polar opposite" of that "nonsense." Instead, he claims the suicide of a fellow negative utilitarian friend sent him over the edge. Meanwhile, questions have been raised online regarding an alleged FBI presence in the town of Twentynine Palms where the suicide bomber lived, in the days leading up to the explosion. When a KESQ 3 reporter asked if the FBI could confirm the presence of federal agents in Twentynine Palms prior to the bombing, a spokesman said he "cannot," before abruptly ending the twenty-minute press conference. Local police Chief Andy Mills also revealed that Bartkus was "chatting with people in online groups, in online forums, as well as posting stuff on YouTube where he was experimenting with different types of explosive materials," but added that he was "very confident" Barkus acted alone. More on crime: Crypto Tycoon's Daughter Narrowly Escapes Kidnappers in Paris
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman connected to the Zizians fired the bullet that killed a Vermont border agent, report says
A woman charged in the January killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a Vermont traffic stop fired the bullet that struck him in the neck, authorities say in a new report. Another agent fired back during the Jan. 20 stop, wounding Teresa Youngblut and killing her companion, Felix Bauckholt, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Wednesday. Youngblut and Bauckholt were affiliated with the Zizians, a cultlike group that has also been linked to killings in Pennsylvania and California, authorities allege. The shootout happened after an agent pulled them over on Interstate 91 a few miles (kilometers) from the Canadian border. About 30 minutes into the stop, the agents asked Youngblut and Bauckholt to get out of their car to be questioned, the border agency said in its report, which doesn't name anyone involved. They reported that Youngblut 'suddenly drew a firearm and opened fire," killing the agent David Maland, it said. One of four agents on the scene returned fire, striking Youngblut once in the arm and once in the leg. The same agent reported that Bauckholt began drawing a firearm from his side and that he ordered him to stop. The agent said the man 'failed to comply' and that he fired twice on the man, striking Bauckholt twice in the chest. Two minutes after that exchange, an agent radioed in that another had suffered a critical gunshot wound to the neck, the report said. Agents and a Vermont state trooper rendered aid to him and he was driven to a hospital, where he died. Youngblut was arrested and police attempted to place a tourniquet on her leg while awaiting emergency responders, according to the report. In total, that agent fired about eight rounds and Youngblut fired four, according to the border agency. Two guns were later recovered from the scene that had been in Youngblut and Bauckholt's possession, authorities said. On Jan. 19, a border patrol agent assigned to a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force notified the border patrol Newport Station management of a report that the couple had checked into a hotel wearing black tactical gear on Jan. 13, according to the report. At least one of them was carrying a gun and both arrived in the Prius they were later in during the shootout. The agent advised the Newport station that state and federal law enforcement officials 'had previously identified the male as a German citizen, in possession of a H1B visa with unknown immigration status.' Youngblut is charged with intentionally using a deadly weapon towards federal law enforcement, and using and discharging a firearm during an assault with a deadly weapon. She pleaded not guilty. When asked to comment on the report, Fabienne Boisvert-DeFazio, a spokesperson for the U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, said the office 'does not comment on ongoing cases beyond the public record.'
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Woman connected to the Zizians fired the bullet that killed a Vermont border agent, report says
A woman charged in the January killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a Vermont traffic stop fired the bullet that struck him in the neck, authorities say in a new report. Another agent fired back during the Jan. 20 stop, wounding Teresa Youngblut and killing her companion, Felix Bauckholt, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Wednesday. Youngblut and Bauckholt were affiliated with the Zizians, a cultlike group that has also been linked to killings in Pennsylvania and California, authorities allege. The shootout happened after an agent pulled them over on Interstate 91 a few miles (kilometers) from the Canadian border. About 30 minutes into the stop, the agents asked Youngblut and Bauckholt to get out of their car to be questioned, the border agency said in its report, which doesn't name anyone involved. They reported that Youngblut 'suddenly drew a firearm and opened fire,' killing the agent David Maland, it said. One of four agents on the scene returned fire, striking Youngblut once in the arm and once in the leg. The same agent reported that Bauckholt began drawing a firearm from his side and that he ordered him to stop. The agent said the man 'failed to comply' and that he fired twice on the man, striking Bauckholt twice in the chest. Two minutes after that exchange, an agent radioed in that another had suffered a critical gunshot wound to the neck, the report said. Agents and a Vermont state trooper rendered aid to him and he was driven to a hospital, where he died. Youngblut was arrested and police attempted to place a tourniquet on her leg while awaiting emergency responders, according to the report. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. In total, that agent fired about eight rounds and Youngblut fired four, according to the border agency. Two guns were later recovered from the scene that had been in Youngblut and Bauckholt's possession, authorities said. On Jan. 19, a border patrol agent assigned to a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force notified the border patrol Newport Station management of a report that the couple had checked into a hotel wearing black tactical gear on Jan. 13, according to the report. At least one of them was carrying a gun and both arrived in the Prius they were later in during the shootout. The agent advised the Newport station that state and federal law enforcement officials 'had previously identified the male as a German citizen, in possession of a H1B visa with unknown immigration status.' Youngblut is charged with intentionally using a deadly weapon towards federal law enforcement, and using and discharging a firearm during an assault with a deadly weapon. She pleaded not guilty. When asked to comment on the report, Fabienne Boisvert-DeFazio, a spokesperson for the U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, said the office 'does not comment on ongoing cases beyond the public record.'
Associated Press
16-05-2025
- Associated Press
Woman connected to the Zizians fired the bullet that killed a Vermont border agent, report says
A woman charged in the January killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a Vermont traffic stop fired the bullet that struck him in the neck, authorities say in a new report. Another agent fired back during the Jan. 20 stop, wounding Teresa Youngblut and killing her companion, Felix Bauckholt, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Wednesday. Youngblut and Bauckholt were affiliated with the Zizians, a cultlike group that has also been linked to killings in Pennsylvania and California, authorities allege. The shootout happened after an agent pulled them over on Interstate 91 a few miles (kilometers) from the Canadian border. About 30 minutes into the stop, the agents asked Youngblut and Bauckholt to get out of their car to be questioned, the border agency said in its report, which doesn't name anyone involved. They reported that Youngblut 'suddenly drew a firearm and opened fire,' killing the agent David Maland, it said. One of four agents on the scene returned fire, striking Youngblut once in the arm and once in the leg. The same agent reported that Bauckholt began drawing a firearm from his side and that he ordered him to stop. The agent said the man 'failed to comply' and that he fired twice on the man, striking Bauckholt twice in the chest. Two minutes after that exchange, an agent radioed in that another had suffered a critical gunshot wound to the neck, the report said. Agents and a Vermont state trooper rendered aid to him and he was driven to a hospital, where he died. Youngblut was arrested and police attempted to place a tourniquet on her leg while awaiting emergency responders, according to the report. In total, that agent fired about eight rounds and Youngblut fired four, according to the border agency. Two guns were later recovered from the scene that had been in Youngblut and Bauckholt's possession, authorities said. On Jan. 19, a border patrol agent assigned to a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force notified the border patrol Newport Station management of a report that the couple had checked into a hotel wearing black tactical gear on Jan. 13, according to the report. At least one of them was carrying a gun and both arrived in the Prius they were later in during the shootout. The agent advised the Newport station that state and federal law enforcement officials 'had previously identified the male as a German citizen, in possession of a H1B visa with unknown immigration status.' Youngblut is charged with intentionally using a deadly weapon towards federal law enforcement, and using and discharging a firearm during an assault with a deadly weapon. She pleaded not guilty. When asked to comment on the report, Fabienne Boisvert-DeFazio, a spokesperson for the U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, said the office 'does not comment on ongoing cases beyond the public record.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Report provides new details about Border Patrol shooting that killed one
COVENTRY, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A new United States Customs and Border Protection report is providing more specifics about the January 20 shooting that killed Border Patrol Agent Davis 'Chris' Maland. This brand-new summery of the incident released Wednesday, May 14, details what happened during the I-91 vehicle stop in Coventry that also lead to the death of German national Felix Bauckholt. It was confirmed in this report that the driver, Teresa Youngblut, from Washington state discharged four rounds and struck a Border Patrol Agent. One agent returned fire, striking Youngblut once in the leg and arm, according to USCBP. The same agent also reportedly shot Bauckholt, who was ordered to stop drawing his firearm but 'failed to comply'. Fallen VT Border Patrol Agent honored with motorcade While the document does not name the agent shot, it does specify that one individual was hit in the neck, and later succumbed to his wound at a hospital. Maland's official death certificate lists his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the neck. The incident occurred about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of the border with Canada. Both Youngblut and Bauckholt had ties to the 'Zizians', a cult-like group linked to multiple deaths in other states. Youngblut was charged in connection to Maland's death and recently waived her right to a speedy trial. The associated press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
