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Armed Man Disrupts WikiConference, Threatens Suicide in NYC

10/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

An armed man disrupted the WikiConference North America in Manhattan on October 21, 2025, threatening suicide while brandishing a gun.
Witnesses reported panic as he approached Maryana Iskander, the conference's chief, but Richard Knipel and Andrew Lih intervened and disarmed him.
The assailant, displaying a sign that read “anti-contact non-offending pedophile,” claimed his actions protested Wikipedia's policy on pedophiles.
He was taken into custody, and no charges have been filed; the conference's remaining events were subsequently canceled.

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Story summary

An armed man disrupted the WikiConference North America in Manhattan on October 21, 2025, threatening suicide while brandishing a gun.
Witnesses reported panic as he approached Maryana Iskander, the conference's chief, but Richard Knipel and Andrew Lih intervened and disarmed him.
The assailant, displaying a sign that read “anti-contact non-offending pedophile,” claimed his actions protested Wikipedia's policy on pedophiles.
He was taken into custody, and no charges have been filed; the conference's remaining events were subsequently canceled.