TERRORISM REVIEW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00893R000100110001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 3, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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Directorate of
Intelligence
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MASTER FILE COPY
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Review
Terrorism
GI TR 83-005
3 March 1983
Copy 434
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Secret
Terrorism
Review P
1 Rightwing Terrorists Responsible for Anti-US Attacks in Germany 25X1
(OGI)
Spanish Terrorist Group Iraultza Responsible for Anti-US Attack
(OGI)
Libyan Hijacking: Peaceful Outcome-But Problems for Malta?
(OGI)
Comments and queries regarding this publication may be directed to the Research
Director, Instability and Insurgency Center, Office of Global Issues, telephone
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Rightwing Terrorists Responsible
for Anti-US Attacks in Germany
rightwing terrorists
from the so-called Kexel Group have confessed re-
sponsibility for bombing attacks in mid-December
against US servicemen in the Frankfurt area and may
be responsible for other attacks against Americans.
We and German authorities were initially inclined to
credit these attacks to radical leftist German terrorist
groups, who had conducted several attacks earlier in
the year against US military facilities. Unlike the
earlier attacks, for which leftist groups claimed credit,
no group claimed responsibility for the latter attacks
we now believe were conducted by rightwing
terrorists.
The Kexel Group, which will be put out of business
when Hepp is apprehended, was one of the most
dangerous terrorist groups in Western Europe. The
bombs planted in US servicemen's cars in Frankfurt
were fixed with sophisticated detonators designed to
activate when the victim entered or sat in his car. One
of the US servicemen escaped unharmed, but two
were wounded, one seriously. The bomb in the de-
pendent housing area, which was discovered prior to
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detonation, was one of the most powerful used against
US military facilities in West Germany.
The Kexel Group was well equipped. Based on infor-
mation provided to police, German authorities uncov-
ered a Kexel weapons cache buried in an aluminum
container in a wooded area near Frankfurt, not far
from the site of the main Red Army Faction cache
uncovered last year. The Kexel cache contained sever-
al weapons, including sawed-off shotguns, automatic
weapons, and pistols. Almost all the weapons are
available commercially in Germany. A second cache,
as yet unlocated, is said to contain license plates.
Police.discovered US military uniforms, disguises,
and explosives materials in the apartment in which
the three terrorists were apprehended.
Members of the Kexel Group appear to be connected
with Military Sports Group/Hoffman, which is Ger-
many's most prominent and dangerous rightwing ter-
rorist organization but which has been relatively
25X1
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Spanish Terrorist Group Iraultza
Responsible for Anti-US Attacks 25X1
A Basque Communist group, Iraultza, has recently The attack on the US Embassy in Madrid on 4 25X1
emerged, in our view, as a potentially serious threat to February involved a sophisticated weapon, described
US interests in Spain. by Spanish police as an M-28 antitank rocket electri-
cally fired from an improvised launcher. The disparity
Spanish police describe Iraultza as the armed, clan- in the modus operandi and the weapons used appears
destine wing of the Basque Communist Movement. It to rule out Iraultza as the perpetrator of the Embassy
appears to be composed of a handful of extremists but attack and to raise the possibility that another, as yet
has no identifiable base of support. Using crudely unidentified, terrorist group in Spain is attacking US
constructed explosive devices, Spanish authorities be- interests.
lieve Iraultza is responsible for 25 minor bombings of 25X1
business and government offices in the Basque prov-
inces, using the names "National Liberation Com-
mand," "The Army of Basque Resistance," "The
Basque Revolutionary Army," "The Revolutionary
Commands," and "The Armed Revolutionary Groups
of Workers Resistance." In December 1982 the group
expanded its activities to include bombings of three
US businesses in the Madrid area, claiming retalia-
tion for US involvement in Central America and
support for the antinuclear movement. 25X1
Despite its Basque roots, we do not believe Iraultza is
linked to the Basque separatist terrorist group Father-
land and Liberty (ETA). Iraultza's attacks against US
firms and its distinct Marxist rhetoric are at variance
with ETA's main goal of autonomy for the Basque
territories. ETA has not attacked US interests in the
past. Spanish police suspect Iraultza's periodic use of
GOMA-2, a stock-in-trade explosive used by ETA, is
coincidence. Spanish police believe Iraultza would
have used this substance more extensively if the group
had operational links to ETA. The primitive nature of
most of Iraultza's devices-bombs composed of chlo-
rite and clock triggering mechanisms-further indi-
cates that Iraultza is an independent group with
limited operational capabilities. 25X1
3 Secret
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Secret
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Libyan Hijacking: 25X1
Peaceful Outcome-
But Problems for Malta?
25X1
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Hijackers of a Libyan aircraft surrendered to Maltese
authorities on 23 February, but conditions of the
surrender could have negative international conse-
quences for Malta.
Two low-ranking Libyan military officers-reportedly
lieutenants-seized a Libyan 727 airliner and its 160
passengers on 20 February and ordered the plane to
Malta. The hijackers were armed with handguns and
a fake plastic grenade and claimed they would "rather
die than return to Libya." The crew and passengers
apparently offered no resistance. As many as five
other Libyan military personnel-two Army deserters
and their three security escorts-decided to join the
hijackers after the seizure of the aircraft. There were
no Americans on board; most of the passengers were
Libyans.
The Maltese adopted a cautious but determined re-
sponse. At first refusing to grant landing rights, the
Maltese eventually relented and established a tight
security cordon around the aircraft, preventing it
from taking off. The government took early steps to
control the situation on the ground, including the pace
of the negotiations.
Prime Minister Mintoff played the central role in
direct negotiations with the hijackers. The Maltese
concluded that the hijackers were amateurs primarily
concerned with obtaining asylum and with no inclina-
tion to harm the passengers, despite vague threats.
Repeated requests for food, fuel, and sanctuary were
turned aside. At one point, Mintoff reportedly told the
hijackers he would forward a message to them from
the Moroccan Government only when the passengers
were freed. In anticipation of a hijacker request to
speak with US representatives, Malta requested and
received an official US refusal to talk to the Libyans
"until and unless" all the hostages were released.
Though not intended as a possible offer of negotia-
tions, the communique was, however, used as further
leverage with the hijackers. Undoubtedly wearied
after the three-day ordeal and with little prospect of
Maltese concessions, the hijackers agreed to surrender
in exchange for guarantees that they would not be
prosecuted or returned to Libya by Malta and that
they would be granted safe passage to a third country
willing to receive them.
Despite the peaceful resolution of the hijacking, how-
ever, the possibility exists of serious international
repercussions. In particular, the conditions of surren-
der, if implemented by Malta, could make Malta
liable to Western sanctions under terms of the Bonn
Declaration of 1978 signed by the United States,
Canada, France, West Germany, the United King-
dom, Italy, and Japan. The declaration pledged the
signatory governments to apply air service restrictions
to any country harboring air pirates.
According to some diplomatic sources, sanctions may
not be automatic since Malta is not a signatory to The
Hague Convention, which requires the extradition or
prosecution of hijackers. This was one of the main
points-in addition to the suggestion that European
signatories might not be willing to apply the Declara-
tion in Malta's case-apparently made by the Mal-
tese Foreign Minister in discussions with US Embassy
officials on 25 February. Publicly, Maltese officials
have sought to head off criticism by emphasizing that
lives may have been saved, that the hijackers are in
Maltese custody pending their departure to a third
country, and that Mintoff had handled negotiations
with hijackers similarly on three previous occasions in
the past. Mintoff has also stated publicly that two
countries-one reportedly being Sudan-have agreed
to take the Libyans, a statement probably intended to
signal that the hijackers would remain only temporar-
ily in Malta. At least one unconfirmed press report
has indicated that Malta may already have returned
to Libya the five personnel who joined in the hijack-
ing,
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Secret
Statistical Overview
International Terrorist Incidents, 1982-83'
Total, 429
Of which: US targets, 216
Category of
International
Terrorist Incidents,
1982-83,by
Month
Figures for the most recent months are subject
to change as additional data are received.
bBreak-ins, conspiracy, shoot-out, etc.
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Secret
Late January 1983
Chronology
ground, importance, and wider implications.
This chronology includes significant events, incidents, and trends in
international terrorism. It provides commentary on their back-
The Netherlands: Dutch Antimilitary Group `Reorganizes
Radical elements of the Dutch group "Onkruit" (which has been dissolved by the
majority of its members) have reorganized under the name "Buskruit" and plan to
continue activities. Onkruit had previously been involved in violent demonstrations
in opposition to NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and nuclear missiles0 25X1
President Belaunde has ordered an investigation into the incident.
Peru: Journalists Killed by Villagers
Eight Peruvian journalists were killed in the Huanta Province of Ayacucho by
local villagers who mistook the journalists for Sendero Luminoso terrorists. The
villagers reportedly had been told by government counterinsurgency troops to
attack strangers approaching their land, as they would undoubtedly be terrorists.
1 February 1983 Spain: Cable Link Destroyed
Basque Fatherland and Liberty/ Military Wing (ETA/M) terrorists claimed
responsibility for the bombing of a communications post which heavily damaged a
submarine cable linking Spain and Britain.
including the M-28 antitank rocket.
3 February 1983 ASALA Alive and Well
In a communique released to Armenian Reporter, the Armenian Secret Army for
the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) claimed to be actively training commandos in
an unidentified location. The communique also claimed that Monte Melkonian
had taken part and been injured in the 7 August Esenboga airport attack but had
escaped and returned to "home base." The communique, which was postmarked in
Greece, also contained photographs of ASALA commandos carrying weapons
11 February 1983 Chile: Police Thwart Possible Terrorist Attack
Following a shootout with two members of the Movement of the Revolutionary
Left (MIR) north of Vina del Mar, police discovered 40 kilograms of explosives
placed in a special shell around the gas tank of their car. One of the terrorists, who
was killed by police, had a valid pass to the International Song Festival in Vina del
Mar. Detonation of the bomb on the festival grounds would have resulted in a
large number of civilian casualties, a departure from past MIR operations.
25X1
murder weapon.
14 February 1983 Turkey: Labor Official Slain
The Turkish leftwing terrorist group "Revolutionary Way" (Dev Sol) claimed
responsibility for the assassination of the president of a Turkish labor union in
Istanbul. Police have arrested six Dev Sol members and confiscated the suspected
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15 February 1983 Guatemala: Violence May Mar Papal Visit
the visit of the Pope to Guatemala City on 8 March
RPA planned spectacular terrorist acts to coincide with
meant to take advantage of media attention during the papal visit.
Izmir. Large caches of arms and explosives have been seized.
Turkey: Terrorist Roundup
Leads from previous arrests have enabled Turkish police to continue their arrests
of members of Revolutionary Way, Revolutionary Left, and the Marxist-Leninist
Armed Propaganda Union/ Revolutionary Salvation in Kars, Artvin, Adana, and
United Kingdom: Animal Rights Militia Attacks Continue
The Animal Rights Militia (ARM) claimed responsibility for a series of letter
bombs in London, Cambridge, Bristol, and Manchester, protesting the slaughter of
the baby seals in Canada. No one was injured by the letter bombs, which were sent
to the Canadian Embassy, Agricultural Ministry, a veterinary school, a surgeon,
16 February 1983 United Kingdom: More ARM Letter Bombs
In Hull and Manchester, furriers were the targets of Animal Rights Militia letter
bombs in the second day of continued protest against the Canadian baby seal
hunting. 25X1
African National Congress (ANC).
South Africa: ANC Attacks Civilians
A bomb in Bloemfontein killed one person and wounded 85 civilians in the first de-
liberate, large-scale attack involving injury to civilians since the 1960s. Although
no one has claimed responsibility, the South African Government has blamed the
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Israel: Threats Against US Facilities
In calls to the US Embassy and Israeli police, unidentified individuals threatened
to carry out attacks against the Embassy and the residence of the US Ambassador
in Tel Aviv. Embassy security evacuated both locations in order to search for
possible explosives. Thus far, no group has claimed credit for the threats, although,
in at least one case, the caller's Israeli-accented English and his accusation that
the United States was responsible for former Defense Minister Sharon's political
demise suggest that an Israeli extremist-possibly acting on his own-may have
been responsible. The Embassy is taking the threat seriously and has enhanced
18-22 February 1983 Spain: Bomb Threats Against US Mission
Official US diplomatic installations have been the target of three bomb threats
within one week. No bombs were located, and we have no information on the
identity or motivation of the group involved. (c)
19 February 1983 Honduras: Terrorists Coordinate Efforts 25X1
n mid-January Honduran revolutionaries met in
Mexico City to create a mechanism to promote solidarity, to coordinate propagan-
da efforts, and to obtain support from Mexican and other radical groups.
Representatives attending included members of the Communist Party of Hondu-
ras, the Communist Party of Honduras/Marxist-Leninist, the Cinchoneros, the
Central American Revolutionary Workers Party, Lorenzo Zelaya, and the Revolu-
tionary-Armed Movement. 25X1
Pakistan: French Facility Bombed
Bombings in Karachi caused extensive damage to the French Consulate, the
French Cultural Center, and Air France's administrative and cargo offices. The
home of the Honorary French Consul in Lahore was also bombed. The police have
detained five Iranian students and believe the bombings were due to France's
support for Iraq in its war with Iran.
Spain: Spanish Arrest Basque Terrorists
Spanish police arrested four members of ETA/M in Llodio and seized a large
arms cache that included submachineguns, grenades, and explosives. Suspects are
accused of plotting to kill several police and Civil Guards as well as individuals
identified by ETA/M as informers.
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20 February 1983 Malta: Deserters Hijack Libyan Aircraft
Claiming they would "rather die than return to Libya," two low-ranking Libyan
Army officers armed with handguns hijacked a domestic Libyan flight with some
160 passengers on board and forced the aircraft to fly to Malta. At least one press
report also said that as many as five other Libyan military personnel on board the
plane may have aided the original hijackers subsequent to the seizure of the
aircraft. Despite their repeated warnings about the health and safety of the
passengers, the hijackers apparently showed no real inclination to harm their
hostages and were consequently frustrated in their demands for food and fuel by
the Maltese policy of refusing to negotiate until all hostages were released. The hi-
jackers surrendered on 23 February in exchange for guarantee of no prosecution
and safe passage from Malta, an agreement that might make Malta liable to
Western sanction under terms of the Bonn Declaration.
22 February 1983 Spain: Basque Terrorist Arson Attack
The Basque extremist splinter Autonomous Anti-Capitalist Command (CAA)
claimed responsibility for an $8 million arson attack that destroyed the Michelin
Tire Company in Oyarzun. Although CAA gave no motive for the attack, labor
disputes and a planned strike at the plant may have provoked the arson, since
CAA is violently antibusiness. CAA also planted an 18-pound bomb in an office
adjacent to the plant, but police defused it.
France: Basque Leader Arrested in France
In St. Jean-de-Luz, French police arrested the second in command of ETA
Political-Military Wing (ETA/PM), Pedro Astorkitza-Ikazurriaga, carrying ex-
tortion letters demanding $300,000 in "revolutionary taxes" from Spanish indus-
trialists. This case may indicate the extent of French willingness to assist Spanish
efforts against Basque terrorists.
El Salvador: Soviet Device Captured
A Soviet-manufactured measuring device with an engraved personal message in
Russian was taken from a captured Salvadoran guerrilla in December 1982, the
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