THE YEAR IN REVIEW -- 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T01017R000808120001-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 4, 1986
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP86T01017R000808120001-1
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P $ PD / The Year in Review -- 1985
International terrorists had a banner year in 1985. They
carried out more attacks than in any year since the decade began;
caused more casualties -- especially fatalities -- over that same'
period (329 alone occurred when an Air India jetliner was blown
up in June); conducted a host of spectacular, publicity-grabbing
events that ultimately ended in cold-blooded murder; increasingly
turned to business targets as official and military installations
were hardened to defend against terrorism; exploited more
accessible targets and, in so doing, counted among their victims
a record number of innocent bystanders; and, finally, gave pause
to international travelers worldwide, who feared the increasingly
indiscriminate nature of, international terrorism.
In 1985, 784 international terrorist incidents occurred,
one-third of which resulted in casualties. Altogether, more than
800 persons were killed in these incidents; and more than 1,200
were wounded. The number of incidents recorded in 1985 was much
higher than in any of the preceding four years and represented a
30-percent increase over 1984.
A comparison of the data for 1985 with those of the previous
year reveals increased levels of international terrorism in some
places and substantial declines elsewhere. Last year, more
international terrorist incidents -- over 350 -- were recorded in
the Middle East than in any other part of the world. If the
number of attacks conducted by Middle Eastern terrorists
elsewhere is also included, then Middle East terrorism accounted
for 438 incidents for the year. For the first time, Western
Europe dropped from first to second place as a venue of
international terrorism, with 219 incidents. Although most
attacks by West European terrorists were designed to avoid
casualties, many of those by Middle Eastern terrorists were
intended to cause maximum casualties. In 1985, Middle Eastern
terrorists worldwide killed more than 240 persons, and injured
more than 760.
Citizens and property of at least 84 countries were victims
or targets of international terrorist attacks last year, compared
to 76 the previous year. International terrorist incidents took
place in at least 75 countries. Last year, attacks against
business interests increased over the previous year -- from 165
to 224. Attacks against diplomatic personnel or facilities
dropped from 133 to 93, but attacks against other official and
military targets increased from 83 to 95, and from 53 to 67,
respectively.
There were marked increases in certain categories of
incidents. Arson attacks jumped from 57 in 1984 to 102 in 1985;
bombings rose from 303 to 397; and the number of kidnapings
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increased from 47 to 89. Attacks against US citizens or property
rose from 133 in 1984 to 174 in 1985. Nearly half of the 1985
incidents involving US targets occurred in Latin America; more
than one-third took place in Western Europe. Of the 17 anti-US
terrorist incidents that occurred in the Middle East, 13 were in
Lebanon.
Last year saw a substantial increase in the number of
indiscriminate casualties. In 1985, most victims were random
targets, such as tourists or passers-by. The number of incidents
against victims such as nonofficial public figures and others not
expressly affiliated with business, government, or the military
increased from 281 in 1984 to 483 in 1985.
Sovereign states continued to be active in supporting
terrorism la'st.year. In 1985, 92 incidents, one-third of which
occurred in Western Europe, were directed or facilitated by
states. More than 90 percent of state-supported terrorist
incidents were conducted by groups or agents supported by Middle
Eastern states -- most notably Libya, Syria, and Iran. Libya
moved toward closer ties with the radical Palestinian Abu Nidal
Group, and Syria's role as a patron of international terrorism
reached a new high. Iranian-backed groups such as the
fundamentalist Shia Hizballah in Lebanon kidnaped nearly a dozen
Westerners in Lebanon in 1985, although these kidnapings probably
did not occur as a result of Iranian direction.
International terrorism of Middle East origin increased
substantially in 1985. Nearly six out of every 10 attacks either
occurred in the region or were conducted by Middle Easterners
elsewhere. Palestinian groups increased their level of
international terrorism by nearly 200 percent and, as a result,
accounted for 257 incidents throughout the year, or one-third of
the total.
Middle Eastern terrorists increased their level of activity
outside the region, especially in Western Europe. In 1985, 72
acts of terrorism by Middle Eastern terrorists occurred in
Western Europe, compared with 61 the previous year. During the
period 1981 - 1983, the annual average number of incidents was
35. The highest levels of Middle East-origin activity in the
region last year were in Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. Among these
"spillover" incidents were some of the most dramatic, and lethal,
attacks of the year: the hijacking in June of a TWA jetliner
flying from Athens. to Rome; the seizure of the Italian cruise
ship Achille Lauro in October as it departed Alexandria, Egypt;
the hijacking in November of an Egyptian jetliner from Athens to
Malta; and near-simultaneous machinegun and grenade massacres at
the Rome and Vienna airports in December.
In Israel and the occupied terrorities, international
terrorism increased markedly last year. In 1985, of 358
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international terrorist incidents which occurred in the Middle
East, more than 220 took place in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza
strip, up nearly 200 percent from the previous year. Much of the
increase was due to the activity of various Palestinian groups,
both inside and outside the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO), against Israeli targets -- partly in competition with, or
opposition to, each other and partly to demonstrate that they
still constitute a force to be feared.
Last year, Western Europe experienced a slightly reduced
level of international terrorist incidents because decreased
activity by West European terrorists offset increased Middle
Eastern terrorism there. A series of terrorist attacks directed
against NATO targets in-1984 by indigenous terrorists continued
into 1985. Speculation ?concerning cooperation among several West
European groups was fueled by the joint communique issued in
January by the West German Red Army Faction (RAF) and the French
Action Directe (AD) calling for a "common anti-imperialist front"
in Western Europe, and joint claims of responsibility for attacks
such as the assassination in January of a French Defense Ministry
official in Paris and the carbombing in August at Rhein-Main
airbase in West Germany.
In Latin America, international terrorism increased by about
30 percent over the previous year to 124 incidents. Chile and
Colombia accounted for most of the increase. Terrorism against
US targets comprised the largest portion of international
terrorist activity in Latin America last year. Perhaps the most
vicious anti-US attack was the June massacre by a component of
the Central American Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRTC) of 13
persons -- including four off-duty US Marines and two US
businessmen -- in a San Salvador cafe. Most of the political
violence in the region, however, continues to spring from local
insurgencies, not international terrorism.
Asia and sub-Saharan Africa each accounted for 5 percent of
all.international terrorist activity last year. Asia witnessed a
significant increase from the previous year, but the number of
incidents in sub-Saharan Africa declined somewhat. Sikh
terrorists, who carried out their first international attacks in
1985, probably were responsible for the most lethal single
incident of the year -- the bombing of an Air India jetliner over
the North Atlantic.
In 1985, nearly one-fourth of all international terrorist
activity involved US citizens or property. Most anti-US
attacks--nearly one-half--occurred in Latin America, primarily in
Chile and Colombia. Another one-third took place in Western
Europe, with West Germany a favorite location. Altogether, last
year 38 US citizens were killed, and 158 were wounded, compared
to 11 and 31, respectively, during the previous year. Business
interests were the most frequently attacked US targets in 1985.
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP86TO1017R000808120001-1