2016-05-31

An extremely large, powerful, and erratic tornado struck Central Oklahoma, killing eight people and injuring more than 150 others.

American physician George Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country who performed late-term abortions, was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, an anti-abortion activist.

A Vanity Fair article revealed that the secret informant known as "Deep Throat", who had provided information about the Watergate scandal, was former FBI associate director Mark Felt (pictured).

An organized mob of police and government-sponsored Sinhalese paramilitary forces began three days of attacks that led to the burning of the Jaffna Library in Sri Lanka.

German forces dropped four bombs on neutral Ireland, killing 28 people and damaging the residence of the President of Ireland.

The United Kingdom completed its re-occupation of Iraq, returning Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for Faisal II.

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Balochistan in British India, now part of Pakistan, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people.

The Second Boer War came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Ulm Minster, the world's tallest church building, is completed in Ulm, Germany.

American Civil War: Confederate troops under Joseph E. Johnston and G. W. Smith engaged Union forces under George B. McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines outside Richmond, Virginia.