WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626225
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 23, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-02132
• Publication Date: October 4, 1978

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Weekly Situation Report
on
�
International Terrorism
4 October 1978
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4 October 1978
Nicaraguan Ambassador to Guatemala Dies After iTerrorist
Attack '1
The 53-year-old Nicaraguan Ambassador to,Guatemala,
Brigadier General (retired) Edmundo Meneses Cantarero, died
on 29 September as a result of a 16 September attack in
downtown Guatemala City by members of the Guatemalan Guer-
rilla Army of the Poor (EGP). The Ambassador was attacked
as he was entering a barbershop a short distance from his
residence. He had no bodyguards and had left his bullet-
proof vest on the seat of his car.
Reports indicated that the victim had been hit by
pistol and automatic weapon fire from three or four persons
riding in a small white station wagon. Police reports
indicated that both 9 millimeter and .30 calib:er bullets were
found at the scene and that 24 bullet holes were counted in
surrounding buildings. While the victim was lamed, he had
no chance to resist or seek cover. He was struck in the
lungs and spine.
A bulletin distributed to the press sometime after the
incident called the action a "gesture of EGP isolidarity with
the Sandinist National Liberation Front's stliuggle", and
accused the Ambassador of hiding behind his diplomatic title
to coordinate mutual support between the Niclraguan National
Guard and the Guatemalan army in the Nicaragan fight
against the Sandinists. (SECRET)
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4 October 1978
CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ACTS
Date: 27 September 1978
Place: Guatemala,
Guatemala City
Date: 29 September 1978
Place: Guatemala,
Guatemala City
Date: 30 September 1978
Place: Turkey, Istanbul
Bomb Explosion at Nicaraguan
Airline Office in Guatemala
On 27 September the Guatemala
City offices of the Nicaraguan
Airlines Company (LANICA) were
destroyed by a time bomb. The
bomb, placed on a glass door,
destroyed office equipment
and furniture and damaged
several nearby businesses.
The Guatemala Guerrilla Army
of the Poor (EGP) assumed
responsibility for the inci-
dent. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Swiss Ambassador Held Hostage
in Guatemala
On 29 September workers from
Duralita, S.A., a Swiss-Guate-
malan joint venture, took over
the Swiss Embassy in Guatemala
City and held the Swiss Ambas-
sador hostage. The workers
were involved in a labor dis�
pute over layoffs at Duralita.
The Ambassador was released
and the Embassy vacated when
an agreement was reached with
the firm on 2 October. (UN-
CLASSIFIED)
U.S. Consulate in Turkey Bomb
Target
On 30 September a bomb deto-
nated near the U.S. Consulate
in Istanbul. There was no
damage to the building and
no injuries resulted; however,.
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4 October 1978
TERRORIST THREATS AND PLANS
Tab B includes all reasonably credible reports of planned
terrorist activity. Although the reliability and access of
the sources vary considerably, the threats listed are consid-
ered sufficiently plausible to warrant alertness and the use
of protective security measures. However, terrorist groups
often discuss general intentions or make tentative plans for
violent acts that they never succeed in carrying out. In
nearly all the cases listed, the intended target and appro-
priate governments have been informed of the threat.
* *
Indicates a new threat reported for the first time.
* Indicates a revision of a threat reported in previous issues.
I. Western Hemisphere, Including the United States
Target: U.S. AMBASSADOR
U.S. EMBASSY
Place: Honduras,
Tegucigalpa
Date: Unknown
� Target: U.S. AMBASSADOR
U. S. CONSUL
Place: Guatemala
Recent developments in Honduras
at the U.S. Embassy have re-
sulted in the tightening of
security measures. In late
August a night watchman was
approached as he departed the
Embassy and asked questions
about working hours of the
Ambassador and Consul. The
two men said they were Sand-
inistas and spoke of getting
a large ransom if they kidnaped
the American Ambassador. On 24
September an anonymous male
telephoned the Embassy and speak-
ing in Spanish said something
about "explosivo--5 minutos".
A search of the building was
negative. (SECRET)
the Guerrilla Army of the
Poor (ECP) continues planning
to assassinate the U.S. Ambas-
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� sador and the U.S. Consul in
Guatemala. In late June of
this year there was a threat
by the EGP against a diplomatic
mission, the U.S. Embassy and a
member of the U.S. military in
the country. (See th.e issue
of 12 July. Tab B.)
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