WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626228
• 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: September 27, 1978

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Weekly Situation Report
on
International Terrorism
27 September 1978
Sefret
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Revolutionary groups in El Salvador and Guatemala have
implemented the coordination and joint execution of acts of
terrorism in the two countries. Two groups, the Farabundo
Marti Popular Liberation Front (FPL) in El Salvador and the
Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP) in Guatemala, have committed
most of the recent terrorist incidents in their respective
countries. Joint action is a relatively new aspect, of their
o erations. (b)(1)
their first major coordinated action was the 16 (b)(3)
er machinegunning of-the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador: '
Future plans call for, among othim(1)
things, the possible kidnaping of assassination in the neabv3)
future of the U.S. Ambassadors in El Salvador and Guatemal "
or any other high-level U.S. officials who might be vulnerable.
One objective of the coordinated activity, (W(1)
is to keep the governments of both countriem(3)
occupied at. home to prevent their assistance to Nicaragua in
its figbt against the Sandinista National Liberation Front
(.FSLN).1 the FPL hopes to promote .(b)(1)
situation throughout Central America similar to the curren(b)(3)
one in Nicaragua, with a goal of setting up a new socialist
society modeled after the Cuban Government. Young members
of the FPL generally believe that their chances of bringing
down the Salvadoran Government and establishing a socialist
government will be excellent should the FSLN succeed in
taking over the government of Nicaragua and should the
coordination between Central American revolutionary-organiza-
tions be sustained.
rorist operations.
27 September 1978
Cooperation Between Central American Terrorist Groups
Sentem
(b)(1)
EGP plans to attack the (b)(3)
Americans Ea Guatemala have been formulated in response to
FSLN requests. the shooting of the (b)(1)
Nicaraguan Ambassador to Guatemala on 16 September was (b)13)
implemented at the request of the FSLN. Thus far, however,
the EGP has not allowed FSLN(b)(l)
participation in these plans and attacks. The FSLN has (bv3)
requested permission to participate in the planned attacks' '
4
The FSLN and 91e EGP have also been coordinating ter
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27 September 1978
against Americans but has been refused; permission was also
denied for its parti(ciDation in the attack nn the Nicaraguan
Ambassador.
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27 September 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,
Teguicigalpa
Date: Unknown
Target: U.S. AMBASSADOR
U.S. CONSUL
* *
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 (EGP) continues planning to
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27 September 1978
Place:
Guatemala
assassinate
and the U.S.
the U.S. Ambassador
Consul in Guate-
Date:
Unknown
mala. In late
June of this
year there wis
EGP against
a threat by the
4 diplomatic mis-
sion, the u.p: Embassy and.a
-member of the U.S. military in
the country.1 (See te issue
of 12 1-111v T-11 R
B-I-2
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