WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626242
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 23, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-02132
• Publication Date: June 1, 1977

Approved for Release: 2020/01/15 C06626242
Weekly Situation Report
on
International Terrorism
1 June 1977
-
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1 June 1977
ARTICLES
Salvadoran Ambassador Released by Kidnapers
Colonel Eduardo Casanova Sandoval, El Salvador's ambas-
sador to Guatemala since 1970, was kidnaped on 29 May by
about 10 members of the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP).
He was taken hostage as 1,200 delegates from about 50 coun-
tries gathered in the Guatemalan capital for the 17th annual
meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Casanova was released on 31 May.
The ambassador and his wife were driving on a busy main
street in Guatemala City early in the afternoon of 29 May
when a car suddenly pulled in front of their automobile and
forced them to stop. Two other cars blocked them from
behind. The ambassador, who is usually accompanied by
security personnel, was unguarded and unarmed. He tried to
resist but was dragged into one of the kidnapers' cars and
suffered a gunshot wound in the foot. No attempt was made
to kidnap or injure Mrs. Casanova. The abduction was viewed
by a number of people and witnesses were able to provide the
license number of one of the terrorists' cars; it had been
reported stolen on 14 May. Once Casanova was in the car, a
hood was placed over his head and he was taken to what he
thought was a farm house, where he was questioned at great
length.
At about midnight on 29 May, a letter and a five-page
EGP communique were delivered to the home of the Guatemalan
executive director of the TDB.. The covering letter, which
was addressed to the president of the IDB, instructed him to
have the communique read at the IDB plenary session and to.
have copies distributed to all delegates, observers, and
guests at the meeting, as well as to the press. The letter
further said that if these conditions were met, Casanova
would not be killed and the participants in the assembly
would "have their security guaranteed." The communique,
which denounced El Salvador, the government of Guatemala and
the IDB, was read at the IDB meeting on 30 May as directed
by the Guerrilla Army of the Poor. (UNCLASSIFIED)
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1 June 1977
claimed to be carrying explo-
sives. He has requested asylum
in Sweden, amid demands by the
Soviet Union for his extradition.
(See Article.) (UNCLASSIFIED)
Date: 29 May 1977 Bomb Explosions in Istanbul's
_ .
Airport and Train Station
Place: Turkey, Istanbul, A powerful bomb exploded in
Istanbul's Yesilkoy airport
on 29 May, killing S persons
and injuring 42. One of the
injured was a U.S. citizen.
Damage to the building was
extensive. A similar bomb
exploded the same afternoon
in the Sirkeci train station,
causing one death, approxi-
mately 10 injuries, and heavily
damaging the terminal building.
In an anonymous telephone call
to the French press agency of-
fice in Athens, the 28 May 1977
Armenian organization claimed
responsibility for the bombings.
(UNCLASSIFIED)
Date:
Place:
A- 4
29 May 1977
Guatemala, Guate-
mala City
Salvadoran Ambassador Kidnaped
in Guatemala City
Salvadoran Ambassador to Guate-
mala Eduardo Casanova Sandoval
was kidnaped from his car in
Guatemala City on 29 May by
members of the Guatemalan Army
of the Poor (EGP). In response
to an EGP demand, a lengthy
communique attacking the Sal-
vadoran and Guatemalan govern-
ments was read on 30 May to
delegates attending a meeting
of the Inter-American Develop-
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1 June 1977
ment Bank in Guatemala City.
Casanova, who was slightly
wounded during the kidnap �
action, was released on 31
May. (See Article.) (UNCLAS-
SIFIED)
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