Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology
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First U.S. Aircraft Hijacked, May 1, 1961: Puerto Rican born Antuilo
Ramierez Ortiz forced at gunpoint a National Airlines plane to fly to
Havana, Cuba, where he was given asylum.
Ambassador to Guatemala Assassinated, August 28, 1968: U.S. Ambassador
to Guatemala John Gordon Mein was murdered by a rebel faction when
gunmen forced his official car off the road in Guatemala City and raked
the vehicle with gunfire.
Ambassador to Japan Attacked, July 30, 1969: U.S. Ambassador to Japan
A.H. Meyer was attacked by a knife-wielding Japanese citizen.
Ambassador to Brazil Kidnapped, September 3, 1969: U.S. Ambassador to
Brazil Charles Burke Elbrick was kidnapped by the Marxist revolutionary
group MR-8.
Attack on the Munich Airport, February 10, 1970: Three terrorists
attacked El Al passengers in a bus at the Munich Airport with guns and
grenades. One passenger was killed and 11 were injured. All three
terrorists were captured by airport police. The Action Organization for
the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.
U.S. Agency for International Development Adviser Kidnapped, July 31,
1970: In Montevideo, Uruguay, the Tupamaros terrorist group kidnapped
AID Police adviser Dan Mitrione; his body was found on August 10.
"Bloody Friday," July 21, 1972: An Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb
attacks killed eleven people and injure 130 in Belfast, Northern
Ireland. Ten days later, three IRA car bomb attacks in the village of
Claudy left six dead.
Munich Olympic Massacre, September 5, 1972: Eight Palestinian "Black
September" terrorists seized eleven Israeli athletes in the Olympic
Village in Munich, West Germany. In a bungled rescue attempt by West
German authorities, nine of the hostages and five terrorists were
killed.
Ambassador to Sudan Assassinated, March 2, 1973: U.S. Ambassador to
Sudan Cleo A. Noel and other diplomats were assassinated at the Saudi
Arabian Embassy in Khartoum by members of the Black September
organization.
Consul General in Mexico Kidnapped, May 4, 1973: U.S. Consul General in
Guadalajara Terrence Leonhardy was kidnapped by members of the People’s
Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Attack and Hijacking at the Rome Airport, December 17, 1973: Five
terrorists pulled weapons from their luggage in the terminal lounge at
the Rome airport, killing two persons. They then attacked a Pan American
707 bound for Beirut and Tehran, destroying it with incendiary grenades
and killing 29 persons, including 4 senior Moroccan officials and 14
American employees of ARAMCO. They then herded 5 Italian hostages into a
Lufthansa airliner and killed an Italian customs agent as he tried to
escape, after which they forced the pilot to fly to Beirut. After
Lebanese authorities refused to let the plane land, it landed in Athens,
where the terrorists demanded the release of 2 Arab terrorists. In order
to make Greek authorities comply with their demands, the terrorists
killed a hostage and threw his body onto the tarmac. The plane then flew
to Damascus, where it stopped for two hours to obtain fuel and food. It
then flew to Kuwait, where the terrorists released their hostages in
return for passage to an unknown destination. The Palestine Liberation
Organization disavowed the attack, and no group claimed responsibility
for it.
Ambassador to Cyprus Assassinated, August 19, 1974: U.S. Ambassador to
Cyprus Rodger P. Davies and his Greek Cypriot secretary were shot and
killed by snipers during a demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in
Nicosia.
Domestic Terrorism, January 27-29, 1975: Puerto Rican nationalists
bombed a Wall Street bar, killing four and injuring 60; two days later,
the Weather Underground claims responsibility for an explosion in a
bathroom at the U.S. Department of State in Washington.
Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976: Members of the Baader-Meinhof
Group and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
seized an Air France airliner and its 258 passengers. They forced the
plane to land in Uganda. On July 3 Israeli commandos successfully
rescued the passengers.
Assassination of Former Chilean Diplomat, September 21, 1976: Exiled
Chilean Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier was killed by a car-bomb in
Washington.
Kidnapping of Italian Prime Minister, March 16, 1978: Premier Aldo Moro
was seized by the Red Brigade and assassinated 55 days later.
Ambassador to Afghanistan Assassinated, February 14, 1979: Four Afghans
kidnapped U.S. Ambassador Adolph Dubs in Kabul and demanded the release
of various "religious figures." Dubs was killed, along with four alleged
terrorists, when Afghan police stormed the hotel room where he was being
held.
Iran Hostage Crisis, November 4, 1979: After President Carter agreed to
admit the Shah of Iran into the US, Iranian radicals seized the U.S.
Embassy in Tehran and took 66 American diplomats hostage. Thirteen
hostages were soon released, but the remaining 53 were held until their
release on January 20, 1981.
Grand Mosque Seizure, November 20, 1979: 200 Islamic terrorists seized
the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, taking hundreds of pilgrims
hostage. Saudi and French security forces retook the shrine after an
intense battle in which some 250 people were killed and 600 wounded.
U.S. Installation Bombing, August 31, 1981: The Red Army exploded a bomb
at the U.S. Air Force Base at Ramstein, West Germany.
Assassination of Egyptian President, October 6, 1981: Soldiers who were
secretly members of the Takfir Wal-Hajira sect attacked and killed
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat during a troop review.
Murder of Missionaries, December 4, 1981: Three American nuns and one
lay missionary were found murdered outside San Salvador, El Salvador.
They were killed by members of the National Guard, and the killers are
currently in prison.
Assassination of Lebanese President, September 14, 1982: President
Bashir Gemayel was assassinated by a car bomb parked outside his party’s
Beirut headquarters.
1983
Colombian Hostage-taking, April 8, 1983: A U.S. citizen was seized by
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and held for ransom.
Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, April 18, 1983: Sixty-three people,
including the CIA’s Middle East director, were killed and 120 were
injured in a 400-pound suicide truck-bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in
Beirut, Lebanon. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Naval Officer Assassinated in El Salvador, May 25, 1983: A U.S. Navy
officer was assassinated by the Farabundo Marti National Liberation
Front.
North Korean Hit Squad, October 9, 1983: North Korean agents blew up a
delegation from South Korea in Rangoon, Burma, killing 21 persons and
injuring 48.
Bombing of Marine Barracks, Beirut, October 23, 1983: Simultaneous
suicide truck-bomb attacks were made on American and French compounds in
Beirut, Lebanon. A 12,000-pound bomb destroyed the U.S. compound,
killing 242 Americans, while 58 French troops were killed when a 400-
pound device destroyed a French base. Islamic Jihad claimed
responsibility.
Naval Officer Assassinated in Greece, November 15, 1983: A U.S. Navy
officer was shot by the November 17 terrorist group in Athens, Greece,
while his car was stopped at a traffic light.
1984
Kidnapping of Embassy Official, March 16, 1984: The Islamic Jihad
kidnapped and later murdered Political Officer William Buckley in
Beirut, Lebanon. Other U.S. citizens not connected to the U.S.
government were seized over a succeeding two-year period.
Restaurant Bombing in Spain, April 12, 1984: Eighteen U.S. servicemen
were killed and 83 people were injured in a bomb attack on a restaurant
near a U.S. Air Force Base in Torrejon, Spain.
Temple Seizure, June 5, 1984: Sikh terrorists seized the Golden Temple
in Amritsar, India. One hundred people died when Indian security forces
retook the Sikh holy shrine.
Assassination of Indian Prime Minister, October 31, 1984: Premier Indira
Gandhi was shot to death by members of her security force.
1985
Kidnapping of U.S. Officials in Mexico, February 7, 1985: Under the
orders of narcotrafficker Rafael Caro Quintero, Drug Enforcement
Administration agent Enrique Camarena Salazar and his pilot were
kidnapped, tortured and executed.
TWA Hijacking, June 14, 1985: A Trans-World Airlines flight was hijacked
en route to Rome from Athens by two Lebanese Hizballah terrorists and
forced to fly to Beirut. The eight crew members and 145 passengers were
held for seventeen days, during which one American hostage, a U.S. Navy
sailor, was murdered. After being flown twice to Algiers, the aircraft
was returned to Beirut after Israel released 435 Lebanese and
Palestinian prisoners.
Attack on a Restaurant in El Salvador, June 19, 1985: Members of the
FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front) fired on a restaurant
in the Zona Rosa district of San Salvador, killing four Marine Security
Guards assigned to the U.S. Embassy and nine Salvadorean civilians.
Air India Bombing, June 23, 1985: A bomb destroyed an Air India Boeing
747 over the Atlantic, killing all 329 people aboard. Both Sikh and
Kashmiri terrorists were blamed for the attack. Two cargo handlers were
killed at Tokyo airport, Japan, when another Sikh bomb exploded in an
Air Canada aircraft en route to India.
Soviet Diplomats Kidnapped, September 30, 1985: In Beirut, Lebanon,
Sunni terrorists kidnapped four Soviet diplomats. One was killed but
three were later released.
Achille Lauro Hijacking, October 7, 1985: Four Palestinian Liberation
Front terrorists seized the Italian cruise liner in the eastern
Mediterranean Sea, taking more than 700 hostages. One U.S. passenger was
murdered before the Egyptian government offered the terrorists safe
haven in return for the hostages’ freedom.
Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, November 23, 1985: An EgyptAir airplane
bound from Athens to Malta and carrying several U.S. citizens was
hijacked by the Abu Nidal Group.
Airport Attacks in Rome and Vienna, December 27, 1985: Four gunmen
belonging to the Abu Nidal Organization attacked the El Al and Trans
World Airlines ticket counters at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport with
grenades and automatic rifles. Thirteen persons were killed and 75 were
wounded before Italian police and Israeli security guards killed three
of the gunmen and captured the fourth. Three more Abu Nidal gunmen
attacked the El Al ticket counter at Vienna’s Schwechat Airport, killing
three persons and wounding 30. Austrian police killed one of the gunmen
and captured the others.
1986
Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986: A Palestinian splinter group
detonated a bomb as TWA Flight 840 approached Athens airport, killing
four U.S. citizens.
Berlin Discothèque Bombing, April 5, 1986: Two U.S. soldiers were killed
and 79 American servicemen were injured in a Libyan bomb attack on a
nightclub in West Berlin, West Germany. In retaliation U.S. military
jets bombed targets in and around Tripoli and Benghazi.
Kimpo Airport Bombing, September 14, 1986: North Korean agents detonated
an explosive device at Seoul’s Kimpo airport, killing 5 persons and
injuring 29 others.
1987
Bus Attack, April 24, 1987: Sixteen U.S. servicemen riding in a Greek
Air Force bus near Athens were injured in an apparent bombing attack,
carried out by the revolutionary organization known as November 17.
Downing of Airliner, November 29, 1987: North Korean agents planted a
bomb aboard Korean Air Lines Flight 858, which subsequently crashed into
the Indian Ocean.
Servicemen’s Bar Attack, December 26, 1987: Catalan separatists bombed a
Barcelona bar frequented by U.S. servicemen, resulting in the death of
one U.S. citizen.
1988
Kidnapping of William Higgins, February 17, 1988: U.S. Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel W. Higgins was kidnapped and murdered by the Iranian-
backed Hizballah group while serving with the United Nations Truce
Supervisory Organization (UNTSO) in southern Lebanon.
Naples USO Attack, April 14, 1988: The Organization of Jihad Brigades
exploded a car-bomb outside a USO Club in Naples, Italy, killing one
U.S. sailor.
Attack on U.S. Diplomat in Greece, June 28, 1988: The Defense Attaché of
the U.S. Embassy in Greece was killed when a car-bomb was detonated
outside his home in Athens.
Pan Am 103 Bombing, December 21, 1988: Pan American Airlines Flight 103
was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, by a bomb believed to have been
placed on the aircraft by Libyan terrorists in Frankfurt, West Germany.
All 259 people on board were killed.
1989
Assassination of U.S. Army Officer, April 21, 1989: The New People’s
Army (NPA) assassinated Colonel James Rowe in Manila. The NPA also
assassinated two U.S. government defense contractors in September.
Bombing of UTA Flight 772, September 19, 1989: A bomb explosion
destroyed UTA Flight 772 over the Sahara Desert in southern Niger during
a flight from Brazzaville to Paris. All 170 persons aboard were killed.
Six Libyans were later found guilty in absentia and sentenced to life
imprisonment.
Assassination of German Bank Chairman, November 30, 1989: The Red Army
Faction assassinated Deutsche Bank Chairman Alfred Herrhausen in
Frankfurt.
1990
U.S. Embassy Bombed in Peru, January 15, 1990: The Tupac Amaru
Revolutionary Movement bombed the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru.
U.S. Soldiers Assassinated in the Philippines, May 13, 1990: The New
People’s Army (NPA) killed two U.S. Air Force personnel near Clark Air
Force Base in the Philippines.
1991
Attempted Iraqi Attacks on U.S. Posts, January 18-19, 1991: Iraqi agents
planted bombs at the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia’s home residence and
at the USIS library in Manila.
Sniper Attack on the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, February 13, 1991: Three Red
Army Faction members fired automatic rifles from across the Rhine River
at the U.S. Embassy Chancery. No one was hurt.
Assassination of former Indian Prime Minister, May 21, 1991: A female
member of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) killed herself,
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and 16 others by detonating an explosive
vest after presenting a garland of flowers to the former Prime Minister
during an election rally in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
1992
Kidnapping of U.S. Businessmen in the Philippines, January 17-21, 1992:
A senior official of the corporation Philippine Geothermal was kidnapped
in Manila by the Red Scorpion Group, and two U.S. businessmen were
seized independently by the National Liberation Army and by
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, March 17, 1992: Hizballah
claimed responsibility for a blast that leveled the Israeli Embassy in
Buenos Aires, Argentina, causing the deaths of 29 and wounding 242.
1993
Kidnappings of U.S. Citizens in Colombia, January 31, 1993:
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorists kidnapped three
U.S. missionaries.
World Trade Center Bombing, February 26, 1993: The World Trade Center in
New York City was badly damaged when a car bomb planted by Islamic
terrorists exploded in an underground garage. The bomb left 6 people
dead and 1,000 injured. The men carrying out the attack were followers
of Umar Abd al-Rahman, an Egyptian cleric who preached in the New York
City area.
Attempted Assassination of President Bush by Iraqi Agents, April 14,
1993: The Iraqi intelligence service attempted to assassinate former
U.S. President George Bush during a visit to Kuwait. In retaliation, the
U.S. launched a cruise missile attack 2 months later on the Iraqi
capital Baghdad.
1994
Hebron Massacre, February 25, 1994: Jewish right-wing extremist and U.S.
citizen Baruch Goldstein machine-gunned Moslem worshippers at a mosque
in West Bank town of Hebron, killing 29 and wounding about 150.
FARC Hostage-taking, September 23, 1994: FARC rebels kidnapped U.S.
citizen Thomas Hargrove in Colombia.
Air France Hijacking, December 24, 1994: Members of the Armed Islamic
Group seized an Air France Flight to Algeria. The four terrorists were
killed during a rescue effort.
1995
Attack on U.S. Diplomats in Pakistan, March 8, 1995: Two unidentified
gunmen killed two U.S. diplomats and wounded a third in Karachi,
Pakistan.
Tokyo Subway Station Attack, March 20, 1995: Twelve persons were killed
and 5,700 were injured in a Sarin nerve gas attack on a crowded subway
station in the center of Tokyo, Japan. A similar attack occurred nearly
simultaneously in the Yokohama subway system. The Aum Shinri-kyo cult
was blamed for the attacks.
Bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, April 19, 1995: Right-
wing extremists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols destroyed the Federal
Building in Oklahoma City with a massive truck bomb that killed 166 and
injured hundreds more in what was up to then the largest terrorist
attack on American soil.
Kashmiri Hostage-taking, July 4, 1995: In India six foreigners,
including two U.S. citizens, were taken hostage by Al-Faran, a Kashmiri
separatist group. One non-U.S. hostage was later found beheaded.
Jerusalem Bus Attack, August 21, 1995: HAMAS claimed responsibility for
the detonation of a bomb that killed 6 and injured over 100 persons,
including several U.S. citizens.
Attack on U.S. Embassy in Moscow, September 13, 1995: A rocket-propelled
grenade was fired through the window of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow,
ostensibly in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Serb positions in Bosnia.
Saudi Military Installation Attack, November 13, 1995: The Islamic
Movement of Change planted a bomb in a Riyadh military compound that
killed one U.S. citizen, several foreign national employees of the U.S.
government, and over 40 others.
Egyptian Embassy Attack, November 19, 1995: A suicide bomber drove a
vehicle into the Egyptian Embassy compound in Islamabad, Pakistan,
killing at least 16 and injuring 60 persons. Three militant Islamic
groups claimed responsibility.
1996
Papuan Hostage Abduction, January 8, 1996: In Indonesia, 200 Free Papua
Movement (OPM) guerrillas abducted 26 individuals in the Lorenta nature
preserve, Irian Jaya Province. Indonesian Special Forces members rescued
the remaining nine hostages on May 15.
Kidnapping in Colombia, January 19, 1996: Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) guerrillas kidnapped a US citizen and demanded a $1
million ransom. The hostage was released on May 22.
Tamil Tigers Attack, January 31, 1996: Members of the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rammed an explosives-laden truck into the Central
Bank in the heart of downtown Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing 90 civilians
and injuring more than 1,400 others, including 2 US citizens.
IRA Bombing, February 9, 1996: An Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb
detonated in London, killing 2 persons and wounding more than 100
others, including 2 U.S. citizens.
Athens Embassy Attack, February 15, 1996: Unidentified assailants fired
a rocket at the U.S. Embassy compound in Athens, causing minor damage to
three diplomatic vehicles and some surrounding buildings. Circumstances
of the attack suggested it was an operation carried out by the 17
November group.
ELN Kidnapping, February 16, 1996: Six alleged National Liberation Army
(ELN) guerrillas kidnapped a U.S. citizen in Colombia. After 9 months,
the hostage was released.
HAMAS Bus Attack, February 26, 1996: In Jerusalem, a suicide bomber blew
up a bus, killing 26 persons, including three U.S. citizens, and
injuring some 80 persons, including three other US citizens.
Dizengoff Center Bombing, March 4, 1996: HAMAS and the Palestine Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) both claimed responsibility for a bombing outside of Tel
Aviv's largest shopping mall that killed 20 persons and injured 75
others, including 2 U.S. citizens.
West Bank Attack, May 13, 1996: Arab gunmen opened fire on a bus and a
group of Yeshiva students near the Bet El settlement, killing a dual
U.S./Israeli citizen and wounding three Israelis. No one claimed
responsibility for the attack, but HAMAS was suspected.
AID Worker Abduction, May 31, 1996: A gang of former Contra guerrillas
kidnapped a U.S. employee of the Agency for International Development
(AID) who was assisting with election preparations in rural northern
Nicaragua. She was released unharmed the next day after members of the
international commission overseeing the preparations intervened.
Zekharya Attack, June 9, 1996: Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a car
near Zekharya, killing a dual U.S./Israeli citizen and an Israeli. The
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) was suspected.
Manchester Truck Bombing, June 15, 1996: An IRA truck bomb detonated at
a Manchester shopping center, wounding 206 persons, including two German
tourists, and caused extensive property damage.
Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996: A fuel truck carrying a bomb
exploded outside the US military's Khobar Towers housing facility in
Dhahran, killing 19 U.S. military personnel and wounding 515 persons,
including 240 U.S. personnel. Several groups claimed responsibility for
the attack.
ETA Bombing, July 20, 1996: A bomb exploded at Tarragona International
Airport in Reus, Spain, wounding 35 persons, including British and Irish
tourists. The Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) organization was
suspected.
Bombing of Archbishop of Oran, August 1, 1996: A bomb exploded at the
home of the French Archbishop of Oran, killing him and his chauffeur.
The attack occurred after the Archbishop's meeting with the French
Foreign Minister. The Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected.
Sudanese Rebel Kidnapping, August 17, 1996: Sudan People's Liberation
Army (SPLA) rebels kidnapped six missionaries in Mapourdit, including a
U.S. citizen, an Italian, three Australians, and a Sudanese. The SPLA
released the hostages 11 days later.
PUK Kidnapping, September 13, 1996: In Iraq, Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) militants kidnapped four French workers for Pharmaciens
Sans Frontieres, a Canadian United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) official, and two Iraqis.
Assassination of South Korean Consul, October 1, 1996: In Vladivostok,
Russia, assailants attacked and killed a South Korean consul near his
home. No one claimed responsibility, but South Korean authorities
believed that the attack was carried out by professionals and that the
assailants were North Koreans. North Korean officials denied the
country's involvement in the attack.
Red Cross Worker Kidnappings, November 1, 1996: In Sudan a breakaway
group from the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) kidnapped three
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers, including a
U.S. citizen, an Australian, and a Kenyan. On 9 December the rebels
released the hostages in exchange for ICRC supplies and a health survey
for their camp.
Paris Subway Explosion, December 3, 1996: A bomb exploded aboard a Paris
subway train as it arrived at the Port Royal station, killing two French
nationals, a Moroccan, and a Canadian, and injuring 86 persons. Among
those injured were one U.S. citizen and a Canadian. No one claimed
responsibility for the attack, but Algerian extremists are suspected.
Abduction of US. Citizen by FARC, December 11, 1996: Five armed men
claiming to be members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) kidnapped and later killed a U.S. geologist at a methane gas
exploration site in La Guajira Department.
Tupac Amaru Seizure of Diplomats, December 17, 1996: Twenty-three
members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) took several
hundred people hostage at a party given at the Japanese Ambassador's
residence in Lima, Peru. Among the hostages were several US officials,
foreign ambassadors and other diplomats, Peruvian Government officials,
and Japanese businessmen. The group demanded the release of all MRTA
members in prison and safe passage for them and the hostage takers. The
terrorists released most of the hostages in December but held 81
Peruvians and Japanese citizens for several months.
1997
Egyptian Letter Bombs, January 2-13, 1997: A series of letter bombs with
Alexandria, Egypt, postmarks were discovered at Al-Hayat newspaper
bureaus in Washington, New York City, London, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Three similar devices, also postmarked in Egypt, were found at a prison
facility in Leavenworth, Kansas. Bomb disposal experts defused all the
devices, but one detonated at the Al-Hayat office in London, injuring
two security guards and causing minor damage.
Tajik Hostage Abductions, February 4-17, 1997: Near Komsomolabad,
Tajikistan, a paramilitary group led by Bakhrom Sodirov abducted four
United Nations (UN) military observers. The victims included two Swiss,
one Austrian, one Ukrainian, and their Tajik interpreter. The kidnappers
demanded safe passage for their supporters from Afghanistan to
Tajikistan. In four separate incidents occurring between Dushanbe and
Garm, Bakhrom Sodirov and his group kidnapped two International
Committee for the Red Cross members, four Russian journalists and their
Tajik driver, four UNHCR members, and the Tajik Security Minister,
Saidamir Zukhurov.
Venezuelan Abduction, February 14, 1997: Six armed Colombian guerrillas
kidnapped a US oil engineer and his Venezuelan pilot in Apure,
Venezuela. The kidnappers released the Venezuelan pilot on 22 February.
According to authorities, the FARC is responsible for the kidnapping.
Empire State Building Sniper Attack, February 23, 1997: A Palestinian
gunman opened fire on tourists at an observation deck atop the Empire
State Building in New York City, killing a Danish national and wounding
visitors from the United States, Argentina, Switzerland, and France
before turning the gun on himself. A handwritten note carried by the
gunman claimed this was a punishment attack against the "enemies of
Palestine."
ELN Kidnapping, February 24, 1997: National Liberation Army (ELN)
guerrillas kidnapped a U.S. citizen employed by a Las Vegas gold
corporation who was scouting a gold mining operation in Colombia. The
ELN demanded a ransom of $2.5 million.
FARC Kidnapping, March 7, 1997: FARC guerrillas kidnapped a U.S. mining
employee and his Colombian colleague who were searching for gold in
Colombia. On November 16, the rebels released the two hostages after
receiving a $50,000 ransom.
Hotel Nacional Bombing, July 12, 1997: A bomb exploded at the Hotel
Nacional in Havana, injuring three persons and causing minor damage. A
previously unknown group calling itself the Military Liberation Union
claimed responsibility.
Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, September 4, 1997: Three suicide bombers
of HAMAS detonated bombs in the Ben Yehuda shopping mall in Jerusalem,
killing eight persons, including the bombers, and wounding nearly 200
others. A dual U.S./Israeli citizen was among the dead, and 7 U.S.
citizens were wounded.
OAS Abductions, October 23, 1997: In Colombia ELN rebels kidnapped two
foreign members of the Organization of American States (OAS) and a
Colombian human rights official at a roadblock. The ELN claimed that the
kidnapping was intended "to show the international community that the
elections in Colombia are a farce."
Yemeni Kidnappings, October 30, 1997: Al-Sha'if tribesmen kidnapped a
U.S. businessman near Sanaa. The tribesmen sought the release of two
fellow tribesmen who were arrested on smuggling charges and several
public works projects they claim the government promised them. They
released the hostage on November 27.
Murder of U.S. Businessmen in Pakistan, November 12, 1997: Two
unidentified gunmen shot to death four U.S. auditors from Union Texas
Petroleum Corporation and their Pakistani driver after they drove away
from the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi. The Islami Inqilabi Council, or
Islamic Revolutionary Council, claimed responsibility in a call to the
U.S. Consulate in Karachi. In a letter to Pakistani newspapers, the
Aimal Khufia Action Committee also claimed responsibility.
Tourist Killings in Egypt, November 17, 1997: Al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya
(IG) gunmen shot and killed 58 tourists and four Egyptians and wounded
26 others at the Hatshepsut Temple in the Valley of the Kings near
Luxor. Thirty-four Swiss, eight Japanese, five Germans, four Britons,
one French, one Colombian, a dual Bulgarian/British citizen, and four
unidentified persons were among the dead. Twelve Swiss, two Japanese,
two Germans, one French, and nine Egyptians were among the wounded.
1998
UN Observer Abductions, February 19, 1998: Armed supporters of late
Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia abducted four UN military
observers from Sweden, Uruguay, and the Czech Republic.
FARC Abduction, March 21-23, 1998: FARC rebels kidnapped a US citizen in
Sabaneta, Colombia. FARC members also killed three persons, wounded 14,
and kidnapped at least 27 others at a roadblock near Bogota. Four U.S.
citizens and one Italian were among those kidnapped, as well as the
acting president of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and his wife.
Somali Hostage-takings, April 15, 1998: Somali militiamen abducted nine
Red Cross and Red Crescent workers at an airstrip north of Mogadishu.
The hostages included a U.S. citizen, a German, a Belgian, a French, a
Norwegian, two Swiss, and one Somali. The gunmen were members of a sub-
clan loyal to Ali Mahdi Mohammed, who controlled the northern section of
the capital.
IRA Bombing, Banbridge, August 1, 1998: A 500-pound car bomb planted by
the Real IRA exploded outside a shoe store in Banbridge, North Ireland,
injuring 35 persons and damaging at least 200 homes.
U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, August 7, 1998: A bomb exploded at
the rear entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, killing 12 U.S.
citizens, 32 Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs), and 247 Kenyan citizens.
Approximately 5,000 Kenyans, 6 U.S. citizens, and 13 FSNs were injured.
The U.S. Embassy building sustained extensive structural damage. Almost
simultaneously, a bomb detonated outside the U.S. Embassy in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania, killing 7 FSNs and 3 Tanzanian citizens, and injuring
1 U.S. citizen and 76 Tanzanians. The explosion caused major structural
damage to the U.S. Embassy facility. The U.S. Government held Usama Bin
Laden responsible.
IRA Bombing, Omagh, August 15, 1998: A 500-pound car bomb planted by the
Real IRA exploded outside a local courthouse in the central shopping
district of Omagh, Northern Ireland, killing 29 persons and injuring
over 330.
Colombian Pipeline Bombing, October 18, 1998: A National Liberation Army
(ELN) planted bomb exploded on the Ocensa pipeline in Antioquia
Department, killing approximately 71 persons and injuring at least 100
others. The pipeline is jointly owned by the Colombia State Oil Company
Ecopetrol and a consortium including U.S., French, British, and Canadian
companies.
Armed Kidnapping in Colombia, November 15, 1998: Armed assailants
followed a U.S. businessman and his family home in Cundinamarca
Department and kidnapped his 11-year-old son after stealing money,
jewelry, one automobile, and two cell phones. The kidnappers demanded $1
million in ransom. On January 21, 1999, the kidnappers released the boy.
1999
Angolan Aircraft Downing, January 2, 1999: A UN plane carrying one U.S.
citizen, four Angolans, two Philippine nationals and one Namibian was
shot down, according to a UN official. No deaths or injuries were
reported. Angolan authorities blamed the attack on National Union for
the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) rebels. UNITA officials denied
shooting down the plane.
Ugandan Rebel Attack, February 14, 1999: A pipe bomb exploded inside a
bar, killing five persons and injuring 35 others. One Ethiopian and four
Ugandan nationals died in the blast, and one U.S. citizen working for
USAID, two Swiss nationals, one Pakistani, one Ethiopian, and 27
Ugandans were injured. Ugandan authorities blamed the attack on the
Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Greek Embassy Seizure, February 16, 1999: Kurdish protesters stormed and
occupied the Greek Embassy in Vienna, taking the Greek Ambassador and
six other persons hostage. Several hours later the protesters released
the hostages and left the Embassy. The attack followed the Turkish
Government's announcement of the successful capture of the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan. Kurds also occupied Kenyan,
Israeli, and other Greek diplomatic facilities in France, Holland,
Switzerland, Britain, and Germany over the following days.
FARC Kidnappings, February 25, 1999: FARC kidnapped three U.S. citizens
working for the Hawaii-based Pacific Cultural Conservancy International.
On March 4, the bodies of the three victims were found in Venezuela.
Hutu Abductions, March 1, 1999: 150 armed Hutu rebels attacked three
tourist camps in Uganda, killed four Ugandans, and abducted three U.S.
citizens, six Britons, three New Zealanders, two Danish citizens, one
Australian, and one Canadian national. Two of the U.S. citizens and six
of the other hostages were subsequently killed by their abductors.
ELN Hostage-taking, March 23, 1999: Armed guerrillas kidnapped a U.S.
citizen in Boyaca, Colombia. The National Liberation Army (ELN) claimed
responsibility and demanded $400,000 ransom. On 20 July, ELN rebels
released the hostage unharmed following a ransom payment of $48,000.
ELN Hostage-taking, May 30, 1999: In Cali, Colombia, armed ELN militants
attacked a church in the neighborhood of Ciudad Jardin, kidnapping 160
persons, including six U.S. citizens and one French national. The rebels
released approximately 80 persons, including three U.S. citizens, later
that day.
Shell Platform Bombing, June 27, 1999: In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, armed
youths stormed a Shell oil platform, kidnapping one U.S. citizen, one
Nigerian national, and one Australian citizen, and causing undetermined
damage. A group calling itself "Enough is Enough in the Niger River"
claimed responsibility. Further seizures of oil facilities followed.
AFRC Kidnappings, August 4, 1999: An Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
(AFRC) faction kidnapped 33 UN representatives near Occra Hills, Sierra
Leone. The hostages included one U.S. citizen, five British soldiers,
one Canadian citizen, one representative from Ghana, one military
officer from Russia, one officer from Kyrgystan, one officer from
Zambia, one officer from Malaysia, a local Bishop, two UN officials, two
local journalists, and 16 Sierra Leonean nationals.
Burmese Embassy Seizure, October 1, 1999: Burmese dissidents seized the
Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, taking 89 persons hostage,
including one U.S. citizen.
PLA Kidnapping, December 23, 1999: Colombian People’s Liberation Army
(PLA) forces kidnapped a U.S. citizen in an unsuccessful ransoming
effort.
Indian Airlines Airbus Hijacking, December 24, 1999: Five militants
hijacked a flight bound from Katmandu to New Delhi carrying 189 people.
The plane and its passengers were released unharmed on December 31.
2000
Car bombing in Spain, January 27, 2000: Police officials reported
unidentified individuals set fire to a Citroen car dealership in
Iturreta, causing extensive damage to the building and destroying 12
vehicles. The attack bore the hallmark of the Basque Fatherland and
Liberty (ETA).
RUF Attacks on U.N. Mission Personnel, May 1, 2000: On 1 May in Makeni,
Sierra Leone, Revolutionary United Front (RUF) militants kidnapped at
least 20 members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra
Leone (UNAMSIL) and surrounded and opened fire on a UNAMSIL facility,
according to press reports. The militants killed five UN soldiers in the
attack. RUF militants kidnapped 300 UNAMSIL peacekeepers throughout the
country, according to press reports. On 15 May in Foya, Liberia, the
kidnappers released 139 hostages. On 28 May, on the Liberia and Sierra
Leone border, armed militants released unharmed the last of the UN
peacekeepers. In Freetown, according to press reports, armed militants
ambushed two military vehicles carrying four journalists. A Spaniard and
one U.S. citizen were killed in a May 25 car bombing in Freetown for
which the RUF was probably responsible. Suspected RUF rebels also
kidnapped 21 Indian UN peacekeepers in Freetown on June 6. Additional
attacks by RUF on foreign personnel followed.
Diplomatic Assassination in Greece, June 8, 2000: In Athens, Greece, two
unidentified gunmen killed British Defense Attaché Stephen Saunders in
an ambush. The Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed
responsibility.
ELN Kidnapping, June 27, 2000: In Bogota, Colombia, ELN militants
kidnapped a 5-year-old U.S. citizen and his Colombian mother, demanding
an undisclosed ransom.
Kidnappings in Kyrgyzstan, August 12, 2000: In the Kara-Su Valley, the
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan took four U.S. citizens hostage. The
Americans escaped on August 12.
Church Bombing in Tajikistan, October 1, 2000: Unidentified militants
detonated two bombs in a Christian church in Dushanbe, killing seven
persons and injuring 70 others. The church was founded by a Korean-born
U.S. citizen, and most of those killed and wounded were Korean. No one
claimed responsibility.
Helicopter Hijacking, October 12, 2000: In Sucumbios Province, Ecuador,
a group of armed kidnappers led by former members of defunct Colombian
terrorist organization the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), took hostage
10 employees of Spanish energy consortium REPSOL. Those kidnapped
included five U.S. citizens, one Argentine, one Chilean, one New
Zealander, and two French pilots who escaped four days later. On January
30, 2001, the kidnappers murdered American hostage Ronald Sander. The
remaining hostages were released on February 23 following the payment of
$13 million in ransom by the oil companies.
Attack on U.S.S. Cole, October 12, 2000: In Aden, Yemen, a small dingy
carrying explosives rammed the destroyer U.S.S. Cole, killing 17 sailors
and injuring 39 others. Supporters of Usama Bin Laden were suspected.
Manila Bombing, December 30, 2000: A bomb exploded in a plaza across the
street from the U.S. Embassy in Manila, injuring nine persons. The Moro
Islamic Liberation Front was likely responsible.
2001
Srinagar Airport Attack and Assassination Attempt, January 17, 2001: In
India, six members of the Lashkar-e-Tayyba militant group were killed
when they attempted to seize a local airport. Members of Hizbul
Mujaheddin fired two rifle grenades at Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister
for Jammu and Kashmir. Two persons were wounded in the unsuccessful
assassination attempt.
BBC Studios Bombing, March 4, 2001: A car bomb exploded at midnight
outside of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s main production
studios in London. One person was injured. British authorities suspected
the Real IRA had planted the bomb.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, March 4, 2001: A suicide bomb attack in
Netanya killed 3 persons and wounded 65. HAMAS later claimed
responsibility.
ETA Bombing, March 9, 2001: Two policemen were killed by the explosion
of a car bomb in Hernani, Spain.
Airliner Hijacking in Istanbul, March 15, 2001: Three Chechens hijacked
a Russian airliner during a flight from Istanbul to Moscow and forced it
to fly to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The plane carried 162 passengers and a
crew of 12. After a 22-hour siege during which more than 40 passengers
were released, Saudi security forces stormed the plane, killing a
hijacker, a passenger, and a flight attendant.
Bus Stop Bombing, April 22, 2001: A member of HAMAS detonated a bomb he
was carrying near a bus stop in Kfar Siva, Israel, killing one person
and injuring 60.
Philippines Hostage Incident, May 27, 2001: Muslim Abu Sayyaf guerrillas
seized 13 tourists and 3 staff members at a resort on Palawan Island and
took their captives to Basilan Island. The captives included three U.S.
citizens: Guellermo Sobero and missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.
Philippine troops fought a series of battles with the guerrillas between
June 1 and June 3 during which 9 hostages escaped and two were found
dead. The guerrillas took additional hostages when they seized the
hospital in the town of Lamitan. On June 12, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu
Sabaya claimed that Sobero had been killed and beheaded; his body was
found in October. The Burnhams remained in captivity until June 2002.
Tel-Aviv Nightclub Bombing, June 1, 2001: HAMAS claimed responsibility
for the suicide bombing of a popular Israeli nightclub that caused over
140 casualties.
HAMAS Restaurant Bombing, August 9, 2001: A HAMAS-planted bomb detonated
in a Jerusalem pizza restaurant, killing 15 people and wounding more
than 90. The Israeli response included occupation of Orient House, the
Palestine Liberation Organization’s political headquarters in East
Jerusalem.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, September 9, 2001: The first suicide bombing
carried out by an Israeli Arab killed 3 persons in Nahariya. HAMAS
claimed responsibility.
Death of "the Lion of the Panjshir", September 9, 2001: Two suicide
bombers fatally wounded Ahmed Shah Massoud, a leader of Afghanistan’s
Northern Alliance, which had opposed both the Soviet occupation and the
post-Soviet Taliban government. The bombers posed as journalists and
were apparently linked to al-Qaida. The Northern Alliance did not
confirm Massoud’s death until September 15.
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland, September 11, 2001: Two hijacked
airliners crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Soon
thereafter, the Pentagon was struck by a third hijacked plane. A fourth
hijacked plane, suspected to be bound for a high-profile target in
Washington, crashed into a field in southern Pennsylvania. The attacks
killed 3,025 U.S. citizens and other nationals. President Bush and
Cabinet officials indicated that Usama Bin Laden was the prime suspect
and that they considered the United States in a state of war with
international terrorism. In the aftermath of the attacks, the United
States formed the Global Coalition Against Terrorism.
Attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature, October 1, 2001: After a
suicide car bomber forced the gate of the state legislature in Srinagar,
two gunmen entered the building and held off police for seven hours
before being killed. Forty persons died in the incident. Jaish-e-
Muhammad claimed responsibility.
Anthrax Attacks, October-November 2001: On October 7 the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that investigators had
detected evidence that the deadly anthrax bacterium was present in the
building where a Florida man who died of anthrax on October 5 had
worked. Discovery of a second anthrax case triggered a major
investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The two
anthrax cases were the first to appear in the United States in 25 years.
Anthrax subsequently appeared in mail received by television networks in
New York and by the offices in Washington of Senate Majority Leader Tom
Daschle and other members of Congress. Attorney General John Ashcroft
said in a briefing on October 16, "When people send anthrax through the
mail to hurt people and invoke terror, it’s a terrorist act."
Assassination of an Israeli Cabinet Minister, October 17, 2001: A
Palestinian gunman assassinated Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam
Zeevi in the Jerusalem hotel where he was staying. The Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed to have avenged the death of
PFLP Mustafa Zubari.
Attack on a Church in Pakistan, October 28, 2001: Six masked gunmen shot
up a church in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, killing 15 Pakistani Christians. No
group claimed responsibility, although various militant Muslim groups
were suspected.
Suicide Bombings in Jerusalem, December 1, 2001: Two suicide bombers
attacked a Jerusalem shopping mall, killing 10 persons and wounding 170.
Suicide Bombing in Haifa, December 2, 2001: A suicide bomb attack aboard
a bus in Haifa, Israel, killed 15 persons and wounded 40. HAMAS claimed
responsibility for both this attack and those on December 1 to avenge
the death of a HAMAS member at the hands of Israeli forces a week
earlier.
Attack on the Indian Parliament, December 13, 2001: Five gunmen attacked
the Indian Parliament in New Delhi shortly after it had adjourned.
Before security forces killed them, the attackers killed 6 security
personnel and a gardener. Indian officials blamed Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and
demanded that Pakistan crack down on it and on other Muslim separatist
groups in Kashmir.
2002
Ambush on the West Bank, January 15, 2002: Palestinian militants fired
on a vehicle in Beit Sahur, killing one passenger and wounding the
other. The dead passenger claimed U.S. and Israeli citizenship. The al-
Aqsa Martyrs’ Battalion claimed responsibility.
Shooting Incident in Israel, January 17, 2002: A Palestinian gunman
killed 6 persons and wounded 25 in Hadera, Israel, before being killed
by Israeli police. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility
as revenge for Israel’s killing of a leading member of the group.
Drive-By Shooting at a U.S. Consulate, January 22, 2002: Armed militants
on motorcycles fired on the U.S. Consulate in Calcutta, India, killing 5
Indian security personnel and wounding 13 others. The Harakat ul-Jihad-
I-Islami and the Asif Raza Commandoes claimed responsibility. Indian
police later killed two suspects, one of whom confessed to belonging to
Lashkar-e-Tayyiba as he died.
Bomb Explosion in Kashmir, January 22, 2002: A bomb exploded in a
crowded retail district in Jammu, Kashmir, killing one person and
injuring nine. No group claimed responsibility.
Kidnapping of Daniel Pearl, January 23, 2002: Armed militants kidnapped
Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Karachi, Pakistan.
Pakistani authorities received a videotape on February 20 depicting
Pearl’s murder. His grave was found near Karachi on May 16. Pakistani
authorities arrested four suspects. Ringleader Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh
claimed to have organized Pearl’s kidnapping to protest Pakistan’s
subservience to the United States, and had belonged to Jaish-e-Muhammad,
an Islamic separatist group in Kashmir. All four suspects were convicted
on July 15. Saeed Sheikh was sentenced to death, the others to life
imprisonment.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, January 27, 2002: A suicide bomb attack in
Jerusalem killed one other person and wounded 100. The incident was the
first suicide bombing made by a Palestinian woman.
Suicide Bombing in the West Bank, February 16, 2002: A suicide bombing
in an outdoor food court in Karmei Shomron killed 4 persons and wounded
27. Two of the dead and two of the wounded were U.S. citizens. The
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed
responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in the West Bank, March 7, 2002: A suicide bombing in a
supermarket in the settlement of Ariel wounded 10 persons, one of whom
was a U.S. citizen. The PFLP claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, March 9, 2002: A suicide bombing in a
Jerusalem restaurant killed 11 persons and wounded 52, one of whom was a
U.S. citizen. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility.
Drive-By Shooting in Colombia, March 14, 2002: Gunmen on motorcycles
shot and killed two U.S. citizens who had come to Cali, Colombia, to
negotiate the release of their father, who was a captive of the FARC. No
group claimed responsibility.
Grenade Attack on a Church in Pakistan, March 17, 2002: Militants threw
grenades into the Protestant International Church in Islamabad,
Pakistan, during a service attended by diplomatic and local personnel.
Five persons, two of them U.S. citizens, were killed and 46 were
wounded. The dead Americans were State Department employee Barbara Green
and her daughter Kristen Wormsley. Thirteen U.S. citizens were among the
wounded. The Lashkar-e-Tayyiba group was suspected.
Car Bomb Explosion in Peru, March 20, 2002: A car bomb exploded at a
shopping center near the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru. Nine persons were
killed and 32 wounded. The dead included two police officers and a
teenager. Peruvian authorities suspected either the Shining Path rebels
or the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. The attack occurred 3 days
before President George W. Bush visited Peru.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, March 21, 2002: A suicide bombing in
Jerusalem killed 3 persons and wounded 86 more, including 2 U.S.
citizens. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, March 27, 2002: A suicide bombing in a noted
restaurant in Netanya, Israel, killed 22 persons and wounded 140. One of
the dead was a U.S. citizen. The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS)
claimed responsibility.
Temple Bombing in Kashmir, March 30, 2002: A bomb explosion at a Hindu
temple in Jammu, Kashmir, killed 10 persons. The Islamic Front claimed
responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in the West Bank, March 31, 2002: A suicide bombing near
an ambulance station in Efrat wounded four persons, including a U.S.
citizen. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility.
Armed attack on Kashmir, April 10, 2002: Armed militants attacked a
residence in Gando, Kashmir, killing five persons and wounding four. No
group claimed responsibility.
Synagogue Bombing in Tunisia, April 11, 2002: A suicide bomber detonated
a truck loaded with propane gas outside a historic synagogue in Djerba,
Tunisia. The 16 dead included 11 Germans, one French citizen, and three
Tunisians. Twenty-six German tourists were injured. The Islamic Army for
the Liberation of the Holy Sites claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, April 12, 2002: A female suicide bomber
killed 6 persons in Jerusalem and wounded 90 others. The al-Aqsa
Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility.
Car Bombing in Pakistan, May 8, 2002: A car bomb exploded near a
Pakistani navy shuttle bus in Karachi, killing 12 persons and wounding
19. Eleven of the dead and 11 of the wounded were French nationals. Al-
Qaida was suspected of the attack.
Parade Bombing in Russia, May 9, 2002: A remotely-controlled bomb
exploded near a May Day parade in Kaspiisk, Dagestan, killing 42 persons
and wounding 150. Fourteen of the dead and 50 of the wounded were
soldiers. Islamists linked to al-Qaida were suspected.
Attack on a Bus in India, May 14, 2002: Militants fired on a passenger
bus in Kaluchak, Jammu, killing 7 persons. They then entered a military
housing complex and killed 3 soldiers and 7 military dependents before
they were killed. The al-Mansooran and Jamiat ul-Mujahedin claimed
responsibility.
Bomb Attacks in Kashmir, May 17, 2002: A bomb explosion near a civil
secretariat area in Srinagar, Kashmir, wounded 6 persons. In Jammu, a
bomb exploded at a fire services headquarters, killing two and wounding
16. No group claimed responsibility for either attack.
Hostage Rescue Attempt in the Philippines, June 7, 2002: Philippine Army
troops attacked Abu Sayyaf terrorists on Mindanao Island in an attempt
to rescue U.S. citizen Martin Burnham and his wife Gracia, who had been
kidnapped more than a year ago. Burnham was killed but his wife, though
wounded, was freed. A Filipino hostage was killed, as were four of the
guerrillas. Seven soldiers were wounded.
Car Bombing in Pakistan, June 14, 2002: A car bomb exploded near the
U.S. Consulate and the Marriott Hotel in Karachi, Pakistan. Eleven
persons were killed and 51 were sounded, including one U.S. and one
Japanese citizen. Al Qaida and al-Qanin were suspected.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, June 19, 2002: A suicide bombing at a bus
stop in Jerusalem killed 6 persons and wounded 43, including 2 U.S.
citizens. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Tel Aviv, July 17, 2002: Two suicide bombers attacked
the old bus station in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 5 persons and wounding
38. The dead included one Romanian and two Chinese; another Romanian was
wounded. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Bombing at the Hebrew University, July 31, 2002: A bomb hidden in a bag
in the Frank Sinatra International Student Center of Jerusalem’s Hebrew
University killed 9 persons and wounded 87. The dead included 5 U.S.
citizens and 4 Israelis. The wounded included 4 U.S. citizens, 2
Japanese, and 3 South Koreans. The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS)
claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, August 4, 2002: A suicide bomb attack on a
bus in Safed, Israel, killed 9 persons and wounded 50. Two of the dead
were Philippine citizens; many of the wounded were soldiers returning
from leave. HAMAS claimed responsibility.
Attack on a School in Pakistan, August 5, 2002: Gunmen attacked a
Christian school attended by children of missionaries from around the
world. Six persons (two security guards, a cook, a carpenter, a
receptionist, and a private citizen) were killed and a Philippine
citizen was wounded. A group called al-Intigami al-Pakistani claimed
responsibility.
Attack on Pilgrims in Kashmir, August 6, 2002: Armed militants attacked
a group of Hindu pilgrims with guns and grenades in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Nine persons were killed and 32 were wounded. The Lashkar-e-Tayyiba
claimed responsibility.
Assassination in Kashmir, September 11, 2002: Gunmen killed Kashmir’s
Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmed Lone and six security guards in Tikipora.
Lashkar-e-Tayyiga, Jamiat ul-Mujahedin, and Hizb ul-Mujahedin all
claimed responsibility. Other militants attacked the residence of the
Minister of Tourism with grenades, injuring four persons. No group
claimed responsibility.
Ambush on the West Bank, September 18, 2002: Gunmen ambushed a vehicle
on a road near Yahad, killing an Israeli and wounding a Romanian worker.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bomb Attack in Israel, September 19, 2002: A suicide bomb attack
on a bus in Tel Aviv killed 6 persons and wounded 52. One of the dead
was a British subject. HAMAS claimed responsibility.
Attack on a French Tanker, October 6, 2002: An explosive-laden boat
rammed the French oil tanker Limburg, which was anchored about 5 miles
off al-Dhabbah, Yemen. One person was killed and 4 were wounded. Al-
Qaida was suspected.
Car Bomb Explosion in Bali, October 12, 2002: A car bomb exploded
outside the Sari Club Discotheque in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, killing
202 persons and wounding 300 more. Most of the casualties, including 88
of the dead, were Australian tourists. Seven Americans were among the
dead. Al-Qaida claimed responsibility. Two suspects were later arrested
and convicted. Iman Samudra, who had trained in Afghanistan with al-
Qaeda and was suspected of belonging to Jemaah Islamiya, was sentenced
to death on September 10, 2003.
Chechen Rebels Seize a Moscow Theater, October 23-26, 2002: Fifty
Chechen rebels led by Movsar Barayev seized the Palace of Culture
Theater in Moscow, Russia, to demand an end to the war in Chechnya. They
seized more than 800 hostages from 13 countries and threatened to blow
up the theater. During a three-day siege, they killed a Russian
policeman and five Russian hostages. On October 26, Russian Special
Forces pumped an anesthetic gas through the ventilation system and then
stormed the theater. All of the rebels were killed, but 94 hostages
(including one American) also died, many from the effects of the gas. A
group led by Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility.
Assassination of an AID Official, October 28, 2002: Gunmen in Amman
assassinated Laurence Foley, Executive Officer of the U.S. Agency for
International Development Mission in Jordan. The Honest People of Jordan
claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, November 21, 2002: A suicide bomb attack
on a bus on Mexico Street in Jerusalem killed 11 persons and wounded 50
more. One of the dead was a Romanian. HAMAS claimed responsibility.
Attack on Temples in Kashmir, November 24, 2002: Armed militants
attacked the Reghunath and Shiv temples in Jammu, Kashmir, killing 13
persons and wounding 50. The Lashkare-e-Tayyiba claimed responsibility.
Attacks on Israeli Tourists in Kenya, November 28, 2002: A three-person
suicide car bomb attack on the Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, killed
15 persons and wounded 40. Three of the dead and 18 of the wounded were
Israeli tourists; the others were Kenyans. Near Mombasa’s airport, two
SA-7 shoulder-fired missiles were fired as an Arkia Airlines Boeing 757
that was carrying 261 passengers back to Israel. Both missiles missed.
Al-Qaida, the Government of Universal Palestine in Exile, and the Army
of Palestine claimed responsibility for both attacks. Al-Ittihad al-
Islami was also suspected of involvement.
Attack on a Bus in the Philippines, December 26, 2002: Armed militants
ambushed a bus carrying Filipino workers employed by the Canadian
Toronto Ventures Inc. Pacific mining company in Zamboanga del Norte.
Thirteen persons were killed and 10 wounded. Philippine authorities
suspected the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which had been
extorting money from Toronto Ventures. The Catholic charity Caritas-
Philippines said that Toronto Ventures had harassed tribesmen who
opposed mining on their ancestral lands.
Bombing of a Government Building in Chechnya, December 27, 2002: A
suicide bomb attack involving two explosives-laden trucks destroyed the
offices of the pro-Russian Chechen government in Grozny. The attack
killed over 80 people and wounded 210. According to a Chechen website
run by the Kavkaz Center, Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed
responsibility.
2003
Suicide Bombings in Tel Aviv, January 5, 2003: Two suicide bomb attacks
killed 22 and wounded at least 100 persons in Tel Aviv, Israel. Six of
the victims were foreign workers. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed
responsibility.
Night Club Bombing in Colombia, February 7, 2003: A car bomb exploded
outside a night club in Bogota, Colombia, killing 32 persons and
wounding 160. No group claimed responsibility, but Colombian officials
suspected the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) of committing
the worst terrorist attack in the country in a decade.
Assasination of a Kurdish Leader, February 8, 2003: Members of Ansar al-
Islam assassinated Kurdish legislator Shawkat Haji Mushir and captured
two other Kurdish officials in Qamash Tapa in northern Iraq.
Suicide Bombing in Haifa, March 5, 2003: A suicide bombing aboard a bus
in Haifa, Israel, killed 15 persons and wounded at least 40. One of the
dead claimed U.S. as well as Israeli citizenship. The bomber’s
affiliation was not immediately known.
Suicide Bombing in Netanya, March 30, 2003: A suicide bombing in a cafe
in Netanya, Israel, wounded 38 persons. Only the bomber was killed.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility and called the attack a "gift" to
the people of Iraq.
Unsuccessful Hostage Rescue Attempt in Colombia, May 5, 2003: The FARC
killed 10 hostages when Colombian special forces tried to rescue them
from a jungle hideout near Urrao, in Colombia’s Antioquia State. The
dead included Governor Guillermo Gavira and former Defense Minister
Gilberto Echeverri Mejia, who had been kidnapped in April 2002.
Truck Bomb Attacks in Saudi Arabia, May 12, 2003: Suicide bombers
attacked three residential compounds for foreign workers in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. The 34 dead included 9 attackers, 7 other Saudis, 9 U.S.
citizens, and one citizen each from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the
Philippines. Another American died on June 1. It was the first major
attack on U.S. targets in Saudi Arabia since the end of the war in Iraq.
Saudi authorities arrested 11 al-Qaida suspects on May 28.
Truck Bombing in Chechnya, May 12, 2003: A truck bomb explosion
demolished a government compound in Znamenskoye, Chechnya, killing 54
persons. Russian authorities blamed followers of a Saudi-born Islamist
named Abu Walid. President Vladimir Putin said that he suspected that
there was an al-Qaida connection.
Attempted Assassination in Chechnya, May 12, 2003: Two female suicide
bombers attacked Chechen Administrator Mufti Akhmed Kadyrov during a
religious festival in Iliskhan Yurt. Kadyrov escaped injury, but 14
other persons were killed and 43 were wounded. Chechen rebel leader
Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bomb Attacks in Morocco, May 16, 2003: A team of 12 suicide
bombers attacked five targets in Casablanca, Morocco, killing 43 persons
and wounding 100. The targets were a Spanish restaurant, a Jewish
community, a Jewish cemetery, a hotel, and the Belgian Consulate. The
Moroccan Government blamed the Islamist al-Assirat al-Moustaquim (The
Righteous Path), but foreign commentators suspected an al-Qaida
connection.
Suicide Bomb Attack in Jerusalem, May 18, 2003: A suicide bomb attack on
a bus in Jerusalem’s French Hill district killed 7 persons and wounded
20. The bomber was disguised as a religious Jew. HAMAS claimed
responsibility
Suicide Bombing in Afula, May 19, 2003: A suicide bomb attack by a
female Palestinian student killed 3 persons and wounded 52 at a shopping
mall in Afula, Israel. Both Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’
Brigades claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, June 11, 2003: A suicide bombing aboard a
bus in Jerusalem killed 16 persons and wounded at least 70, one of whom
died later. HAMAS claimed responsibility, calling it revenge for an
Israeli helicopter attack on HAMAS leader Abdelaziz al-Rantisi in Gaza
City the day before.
Truck Bombing in Northern Ossetia, August 1, 2003: A suicide truck bomb
attack destroyed a Russian military hospital in Mozdok, North Ossetia
and killed 50 persons. Russian authorities attributed the attack to
followers of Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev.
Hotel Bombing in Indonesia, August 5, 2003: A car bomb exploded outside
the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing 10 persons and
wounding 150. One of the dead was a Dutch citizen. The wounded included
an American, a Canadian, an Australian, and two Chinese. Indonesian
authorities suspected the Jemaah Islamiah, which had carried out the
October 12, 2002 bombing in Bali.
Bombing of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, August 7, 2003: A car bomb
exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 19
persons and wounding 65. Most of the victims were apparently Iraqis,
including 5 police officers. No group claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombings in Israel and the West Bank, August 12, 2003: The first
suicide bombings since the June 29 Israeli-Palestinian truce took place.
The first, in a supermarket at Rosh Haayin, Israel, killed one person
and wounded 14. The second, at a bus stop near the Ariel settlement in
the West Bank, killed one person and wounded 3. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’
Brigades claimed responsibility for the first; HAMAS claimed
responsibility for the second.
Bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, August 19, 2003: A truck
loaded with surplus Iraqi ordnance exploded outside the United Nations
Headquarters in Baghdad’s Canal Hotel. A hospital across the street was
also heavily damaged. The 23 dead included UN Special Representative
Sergio Viera de Mello. More than 100 persons were wounded. It was not
clear whether the bomber was a Baath Party loyalist or a foreign Islamic
militant. An al-Qaeda branch called the Brigades of the Martyr Abu Hafz
al-Masri later claimed responsibility.
Suicide Bombing in Jerusalem, August 19, 2003: A suicide bombing aboard
a bus in Jerusalem killed 20 persons and injured at least 100, one of
whom died later. Five of the dead were American citizens. HAMAS and
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility, although HAMAS leader al-Rantisi
said that his organization remained committed to the truce while
reserving the right to respond to Israeli military actions.
Car Bomb Kills Shi’ite Leader in Najaf, August 29, 2003: A car bomb
explosion outside the Shrine of the Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq killed at
least 81 persons and wounded at least 140. The dead included the
Ayatollah Mohammed Bakir al-Hakim, one of four leading Shi’ite clerics
in Iraq. Al-Hakim had been the leader of the Supreme Council for the
Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) since its establishment in 1982, and
SCIRI had recently agreed to work with the U.S.-sponsored Iraqi
Governing Council. It was not known whether the perpetrators were Baath
Party loyalists, rival Shi’ites, or foreign Islamists.
Suicide Bombings in Israel, September 9, 2003: Two suicide bombings took
place in Israel. The first, at a bus stop near the Tsrifin army base
southeast of Tel Aviv, killed 7 soldiers and wounded 14 soldiers and a
civilian. The second, at a café in Jerusalem’s German Colony
neighborhood, killed 6 persons and wounded 40. HAMAS did not claim
responsibility until the next day, although a spokesman called the first
attack" a response to Israeli aggression."
Assassination of an Iraqi Governing Council Member, September 20, 2003:
Gunmen shot and seriously wounded Akila Hashimi, one of three female
members of the Iraqi Governing Council, near her home in Baghdad. She
died September 25.
A Second Attack on the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, September 22, 2003: A
suicide car bomb attack on the UN Headquarters in Baghdad killed a
security guard and wounded 19 other persons.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, October 4, 2003: A Palestinian woman made a
suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in Haifa, killing 19 persons and
wounding at least 55. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the
attack. The next day, Israel bombed a terrorist training camp in Syria.
Attacks in Iraq, October 9, 2003: Gunmen assassinated a Spanish military
attaché in Baghdad. A suicide car bomb attack on an Iraqi police station
killed 8 persons and wounded 40.
Car Bombings in Baghdad, October 12, 2003: Two suicide car bombs
exploded outside the Baghdad Hotel, which housed U.S. officials. Six
persons were killed and 32 wounded. Iraqi and U.S. security personnel
apparently kept the cars from actually reaching the hotel.
Bomb Attack on U.S. Diplomats in the Gaza Strip, October 15, 2003: A
remote-controlled bomb exploded under a car in a U.S. diplomatic convoy
passing through the northern Gaza Strip. Three security guards, all
employees of DynCorp, were killed. A fourth was wounded. The diplomats
were on their way to interview Palestinian candidates for Fulbright
scholarships to study in the United States. Palestinian President Arafat
and Prime Minister Qurei condemned the attack, while the major
Palestinian militant groups denied responsibility. The next day,
Palestinian security forces arrested several suspects, some of whom
belonged to the Popular Resistance Committees.
Rocket Attack on the al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad, October 26, 2003:
Iraqis using an improvised rocket launcher bombarded the al-Rashid Hotel
in Baghdad, killing one U.S. Army officer and wounding 17 persons. The
wounded included 4 U.S. military personnel and seven American civilians.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz, who was staying at the
hotel, was not injured. After visiting the wounded, he said, "They’re
not going to scare us away; we’re not giving up on this job."
Assassination of a Deputy Mayor in Baghdad, October 26, 2003: Two gunmen
believed to be Baath Party loyalists assassinated Faris Abdul Razaq al-
Assam, one of three deputy mayors of Baghdad. U.S. officials did not
announce al-Assam’s death until October 28.
Wave of Car Bombings in Baghdad, October 27, 2003: A series of suicide
car bombings in Baghdad killed at least 35 persons and wounded at least
230. Four attacks were directed at Iraqi police stations, the fifth and
most destructive was directed at the International Committee of the Red
Cross headquarters, where at least 12 persons were killed. A sixth
attack failed when a car bomb failed to explode and the bomber was
wounded and captured by Iraqi police. U.S. and Iraqi officials suspected
that foreign terrorists were involved; the unsuccessful bomber said he
was a Syrian national and carried a Syrian passport. After a meeting
with Administrator L. Paul Bremer, President Bush said, "The more
successful we are on the ground, the more these killers will react."
Suicide Bombing in Riyadh, November 8, 2003: In Riyadh, a suicide car
bombing took place in the Muhaya residential compound, which was
occupied mainly by nationals of other Arab countries. Seventeen persons
were killed and 122 were wounded. The latter included 4 Americans. The
next day, Deputy Secretary of State Armitage said al-Qaeda was probably
responsible.
Truck Bombing in Nasiriyah, November 12, 2003: A suicide truck bomb
destroyed the headquarters of the Italian military police in Nasiriyah,
Iraq, killing 18 Italians and 11 Iraqis and wounding at least 100
persons.
Synagogue Bombings in Istanbul, November 15, 2003: Two suicide truck
bombs exploded outside the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues in
Istanbul, killing 25 persons and wounding at least 300 more. The initial
claim of responsibility came from a Turkish militant group, the Great
Eastern Islamic Raiders’ Front, but Turkish authorities suspected an al-
Qaeda connection. The next day, the London-based newspaper al-Quds al-
Arabi received an e-mail in which an al-Qaeda branch called the Brigades
of the Martyr Abu Hafz al-Masri claimed responsibility for the Istanbul
synagogue bombings.
Grenade Attacks in Bogota, November 15, 2003: Grenade attacks on two
bars frequented by Americans in Bogota killed one person and wounded 72,
including 4 Americans. Colombian authorities suspected FARC (the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). The U.S. Embassy suspected that
the attacks had targeted Americans and warned against visiting
commercial centers and places of entertainment.
More Suicide Truck Bombings in Istanbul, November 20, 2003: Two more
suicide truck bombings devastated the British HSBC Bank and the British
Consulate General in Istanbul, killing 27 persons and wounding at least
450. The dead included Consul General Roger Short. U.S., British, and
Turkish officials suspected that al-Qaeda had struck again. The U.S.
Consulate in Istanbul was closed, and the Embassy in Ankara advised
American citizens in Istanbul to stay home.
Car Bombing in Kirkuk, November 20, 2003: A suicide car bombing in
Kirkuk killed 5 persons. The target appeared to be the headquarters of
the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. PUK officials suspected the Ansar al-
Islam group, which was said to have sheltered fugitive Taliban and al-
Qaeda members after the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan.
Attacks on Other Coalition Personnel in Iraq, November 29-30, 2003:
Iraqi insurgents stepped up attacks on nationals of other members of the
Coalition. On November 29, an ambush in Mahmudiyah killed 7 out of a
party of 8 Spanish intelligence officers. Iraqi insurgents also killed
two Japanese diplomats near Tikrit. On November 30, another ambush near
Tikrit killed two South Korean electrical workers and wounded two more.
A Colombian employee of Kellogg Brown & Root was killed and two were
wounded in an ambush near Balad.
Train Bombing in Southern Russia, December 5, 2003: A suicide bomb
attack killed 42 persons and wounded 150 aboard a Russian commuter train
in the south Russian town of Yessentuki. Russian officials suspected
Chechen rebels; President Putin said the attack was meant to disrupt
legislative elections. Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denied any
involvement.
Suicide Bombing in Moscow, December 9, 2003: A female suicide bomber
killed 5 other persons and wounded 14 outside Moscow’s National Hotel.
She was said to be looking for the State Duma.
Suicide Car Bombings in Iraq, December 15, 2003: Two days after the
capture of Saddam Hussein, there were two suicide car bomb attacks on
Iraqi police stations. One at Husainiyah killed 8 persons and wounded
20. The other, at Ameriyah, wounded 7 Iraqi police. Guards repelled a
second vehicle.
Office Bombing in Baghdad, December 19, 2003: A bomb destroyed the
Baghdad office of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq,
killing a woman and wounding at least 7 other persons.
Suicide Car Bombing in Irbil, December 24, 2003: A suicide car bomb
attack on the Kurdish Interior Ministry in Irbil, Iraq, killed 5 persons
and wounded 101.
Attempted Assassination in Rawalpindi, December 25, 2003: Two suicide
truck bombers killed 14 persons as President Musharraf’s motorcade
passed through Rawalpindi, Pakistan. An earlier attempt on December 14
caused no casualties. Pakistani officials suspected Afghan and Kashmiri
militants. On January 6, 2004, Pakistani authorities announced the
arrest of 6 suspects who were said to be members of Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Suicide Bombing in Israel, December 25, 2003: A Palestinian suicide
bomber killed 4 persons at a bus stop near Petah Tikva, Israel. The
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for
the attack in retaliation for Israeli military operations in Nablus that
had begun two days earlier.
Restaurant Bombing in Baghdad, December 31, 2003: A car bomb explosion
outside Baghdad’s Nabil Restaurant killed 8 persons and wounded 35. The
wounded included 3 Los Angeles Times reporters and 3 local employees.
--
Relpo Miraculous
"A camel is a horse designed by a comittee."