TERRORISM REVIEW

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6
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RIPPUB
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S
Document Page Count: 
17
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 5, 2010
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1
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Publication Date: 
March 31, 1983
Content Type: 
REPORT
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 25X1 Directorate of Idh rn111n t Intelligence FL; b6i go NOT GIVE OUT -LJ n --C'-.- C-Pi -Clr74 Terrorism Review GI TR 83-007 31 March 1983 Copy 438 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6L5X1 Terrorism Review F_ 1 London Letter-Bomb Campaign (OGI) 3 Peru: Government Successes Against Terrorists (ALA) 5 Terrorist Exploitation of the Political Offense Exception (OGI) Comments and queries regarding this publication may be directed to the Research Director, Instability and Insurgency Center, Office of Global Issues, telephone Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 JX1 London Letter-Bomb Campaign) Three groups appear to be responsible for much of the continuing rash of letter bombs in London. Since May 1982 the United Kingdom has been the scene of at least 36 incidents of terrorism by mail. Three letter bombs were sent to the US Embassy and the US Navy Building in London, and others were sent to British Government offices, foreign embassies, political party offices, and private businesses. The diversity of targets and multiple claims of respon- sibility have complicated police investigations. Al- though at least seven groups have claimed credit for the incendiary attacks, police have dismissed as prob- ably spurious claims from the Jewish Defense League, the 2nd of April Group, and the Wat Tyler Peoples Liberation Army. The arrest of a 14-year-old boy on 23 March in connection with the 1 December 1982 attack further confuses the picture. According to the police, the following three terrorist groups appear to be responsible for the majority of the letter bombs: ? The Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA), a Scottish separatist group opposed to British rule. ? The Animal Rights Militia (ARM), an extremist group protesting animal vivisection and seal hunting. ? The Makhnos Anarchist Army, a Ukrainian group named for an anarchist in the era of the Russian Revolution. In addition to the three groups that have concentrated their activity in London, two groups-the Angry Brigade (an anarchist group) and the Army of the Gael (a Scottish nationalist group)-have limited their letter-bomb operations to targets outside the capital. The confusion surrounding the responsible groups and their motivations makes it difficult to identify the threat level to US installations. We suspect, however, that the publicity resulting from attacks on such facilities as the US Embassy and the British Prime Minister's Office may encourage more such attacks. In the attacks to date, the letter bombs have contained only small amounts of explosives, probably to avoid personal injury and to preclude discovery by security measures. (See table on page 2.) Secret GI TR 83-007 31 March 1983 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Letter-Bomb Attacks by Terrorist Groups Scottish National Liberation Army 16 March 1983 15 March 1983a 17 February 1983 22 November 1982 19 June 1982 May 1982 17 March 1982 15 March 1983a 22 February 1983a 2 February 1983a 1 February 1983a 25 January 1983a 25 January 19838 Animal Rights Militia 28 February 1983 16 February 1983 15 February 1983 Prime Minister's Office, London Prime Minister's Office, London City Hall, Glasgow British Industry Secretary, London Political party headquarters, Edinburgh Assembly rooms, Edinburgh Government offices, Edinburgh Government offices, Glasgow Edinburgh US Navy Building, London US Embassy, London Soviet Weekly Office, London Soviet Embassy Intourist office Aeroflot office London Furrier Hull Manchester Canadian Embassy, London Cambridge University Kidney Transplant Surgeon Bristol University Veterinary School Manchester Furrier Agricultural Ministry, London Prime Minister's Office, London Office of Liberal Party leader, London Office of Labor Party leader, London Office of Social Democratic Party leader, London Office of junior minister responsible for animals, London 23 December 1982 Labor Party offices, London a Considered to be related by Scotland Yard. Jewish Defense League Jewish Defense League Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret Peru: Government Successes Against Terrorists forces have inflicted heavy casualties on the Sendero Luminoso (SL) terrorist group since President Belaunde authorized military involvement in counter- terrorism last December. The US Embassy reports that government forces and progovernment peasants operating in the emergency zone-which comprises sections of the central highland departments of Aya- cucho, Apurimac, and Huancavelica-killed 62 ter- rorists in the period 22-24 February alone. Since early Peruvian security 25X1 January substantial numbers have been captured as well. Additionally, police report that they have now killed or captured nine of the 11 principal SL leaders in Lima. In late 1982 the group was estimated to have more than 1,000 militants, most of whom operate in the Ayacucho area. the past two months against the terrorists. have reacted by carrying out a number of attacks in Police and military forces appear to be cooperating well and to be maintaining good relations with civil- ians in the area. According to the US defense attache, military units in Ayacucho are used primarily for static defense, civic action, and logistic support of the police. This has enabled the police to patrol more aggressively and reoccupy isolated rural posts. The increased presence and reported restraint of the secu- rity forces have enabled Lima to gather extensive intelligence on Sendero members. Local inhabitants who have been encouraged by successful government operations to inform on the terrorists have been victims of increasingly brutal attacks. Many peasants Although the counterterrorist campaign has met with considerable success, some military leaders privately concede that eliminating Sendero Luminoso could take two to three years. Many officers fear that the terrorists will withdraw from the emergency zone and establish new bases in adjoining areas. The govern- ment's long-term success will hinge on the continued maintenance of adequate security forces in the area, the effectiveness of local civic action programs, and the capture or killing of major terrorist leaders in the field. The apparent progress in Ayacucho, however, has probably strengthened the political position of the Belaunde administration by improving its ties with the the military and boosting public confidence. Secret GI TR 83-007 31 March 1983 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret Terrorist Exploitation of the Political Offense Exception Terrorist groups have sought to exploit the interna- tional legal system both for propaganda purposes and to secure release or obtain better treatment for their imprisoned members-tactics we expect to see refined and increasingly employed. Although democratic states rely heavily on extradi- tion to counter international terrorism, such efforts often run afoul of traditions of political asylum and considerations of national sovereignty, which terror- ists are able to exploit. The most successful legal defense used by terrorists to avoid extradition is the "political offense exception," a standard provision in extradition agreements that prohibits extradition for an offense deemed to be essentially political. It has been used to best effect when the requesting country has a reputation as repressive and when political considerations have been brought to bear. The lack of a consensus definition as to what constitutes a politi- cal offense ultimately leaves the determination to the state receiving the extradition request; often political and economic considerations, rather than legal merit, prove to be the prime determinants in an extradition decision. Terrorist groups that regularly employ sophisticated legal defenses and heavily rely on the political offense exception argument include the Provisional Irish Re- publican Army (PIRA), both wings of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA), the West German Red Army Faction (RAF), and the Italian Red Brigades (see table). Of all European terrorist groups, the Spanish ETA has been the most successful in avoiding extradition. Both wings use France as a safehaven and exploit the French tradition of political asylum, liberal interpre- tation of the political offense exception, and the government's desire to placate the French Basque minority. Since 1975, the French Government has not honored any of the more than 20 S anish requests for extradition of ETA fugitives. 25X1 Although the West German KAr nas been mvoivea in several highly publicized extradition cases, its legal efforts have been unsuccessful. RAF sympathizer groups, however, in some instances have generated considerable favorable publicity. The Italian Red Brigades, in contrast to other European terrorist groups, make less use of the political offense exception not only because they are involved in fewer extradi- tion cases but, we believe, because the Italian political system is widely perceived by West Europeans as accommodating a diversity of views, thus reducing the credibility of such a defense.F___~ 25X1 In our view, the political offense exception has been used to best effect by ethnic separatists. Such groups can often persuasively document a history of serious grievances, government repression, organized resist- ance to the central authority, and a base of popular support, thereby demonstrating a political rationale for their violent acts. Thus, we believe, Basque and Irish nationalists can present a more compelling case than an anarchic group such as the German Red Army Faction. 25X1 Secret G! TR 83-007 31 March 1983 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Political Offense Exception: Key Terrorist Extradition Cases Requested by/ Incident Group Outcome Requested of West Germany/Greece Pohle case (1976). Freed from a German RAF Extradition affirmed. An Athens court jail in return for a kidnaped Berlin mayoral denied extradition on grounds that act candidate, Pohle fled to Greece where he constituted a political offense; after the was arrested. German Government exerted extremely heavy pressure on the Greek Government, the Greek Supreme Court reversed the decision. West Germany/France Croissant case (1977). Charged with pro- RAF Extradition affirmed. A French court re- viding operational support to the RAF,' jected initial German warrant on grounds Croissant fled to France and requested that charges cited were political and non- political asylum. ored only one of 15 charges in second warrant. Croissant became a cause celebre among French Leftists and an embarrassment to President Giscard. West Germany, Abu Daoud case (1977). Organizer of the Black Extradition denied. The French Govern- Israel/France 1972 attack against the Israeli Olympic September ment under heavy Arab pressure denied team, Daoud was arrested by French au- (PLO) extradition on grounds that the German thorities in 1977. warrant was technically defective and had not been followed by an official request through diplomatic channels. The Israeli request was denied on grounds that the offense had not taken place on French soil and therefore the Franco-Israeli extradi- tion agreement did not apply. West Germany/ Folkerts case (1978). Germany requested RAF Extradition affirmed. The Dutch Supreme Netherlands extradition for crimes including the murder Court denied extradition for Schleyer mur- of German industrialist, Hanns-Martin der on political offense grounds. Folkerts Schleyer. was ultimately. extradited on other charges, but court finding alarmed both German and Dutch officials as it placed the Dutch Government in the position of appearing to sanction political murder. Italy/France Piperno case (1979). Extradition requested Red Brigades Extradition affirmed. The French court for complicity in the kidnaping and murder rejected the initial Italian warrant on of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo grounds that the cited offenses were politi- Moro. cal but ultimately honored two of the 46 charges listed in a second warrant. Piperno was returned to Italy where the Italian court released him for lack of evidence. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret Political Offense Exception: Key Terrorist Extradition Cases (continued) Requested by/ Incident Requested of Spain/France Linaza case (1981). Spain requested extra- ETA-M dition for the murder of six Civil Guard members, assassination of a municipal councilor, and the bombing of Spain's nuclear facility near Milano. for the Extradition denied. A French court, first time since the death of Franco 1975), ruled to extradite an ETA member, but return the Linaza family and the French Basque Israel/United States Abu Eain case (1981). Israel requested PLO extradition for a bombing that killed two and wounded 36 in a Tiberius market square. ild be y the ,cted the Piperno case (1982). Extradition requested for supporting Red Brigade activities and complicity in the Moro and other murders. jected three separate Italian extradition tion Terrorist success in using the political offense excep- tion depends primarily on the interests of the request-' ed government, the capabilities of sympathizer groups to manipulate public opinion, and the nature of the crime itself. We believe that terrorist exploitation of the international legal system will increase as groups refine their tactics and that the political offense exception will continue to represent a prime legal weapon until democratic governments feel sufficiently threatened to effectively narrow its application. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret Statistical Overview International Terrorist Incidents, 1982-838 Total, 490 Of which: US targets, 236 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 \I - 1 1 0 J A S 0 N D J F M A M J 1982 1983 Total Category of T t l 73 90 50 57 45 46 55 52 1 I 22 490 International o a Terrorist Incidents, 1982-83,by i Kid 3 3 3 1 2 2 2 16 Month nap ng Barricade, 1 1 7 1 6 2 1 1 20 hostage Bombing 42 31 13 17 18 23 20 23 6 193 Armed attack 2 1 3 1 7 Hijacking 3 4 1 3 3 1 4 5 2 26 Assassination 3 4 5 1 4 2 19 Threats, hoax 19 45 16 22 11 14 19 14 7 167 Sniping 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 12 a Figures for the most recent months are subject to change as additional data are received. bBreak-ins, conspiracy, shoot-out, etc. 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret and had 10 additional criminal cases pending against him when he escaped. Chronology This chronology includes significant events, incidents, and trends in international terrorism. It provides commentary on their back- ground, importance, and wider implications. France: Bombings in Toulouse Since October the Toulouse area has experienced several anarchist bombings. Socialist Party headquarters was bombed on 14 October and the offices of a nuclear power equipment producer were bombed on 17 December. The bombing on 23 December of Regional Television Studios has been claimed by Groupe D'Action Anarchiste. The long radical tradition and large university population of Toulouse, combined with the transitory nature of groups that organize, conduct an attack, and disband, have hampered police investigations. F 25X1 11 January 1983 Portugal: Escape of Portuguese Terrorist In Lisbon, three armed men freed Popular Forces of 25 April (FP-25) member Daniel Horacio Martins Tavares while he was being escorted from prison to a hospital for medical examination. Martins Tavares was serving'a 10-year sentence 24 January 1983 Greece: Greek Bombing Suspect Arrest In Kavala, Greek police arrested a suspect in the bombing on 12 February of Khrysoupolis Airport, which caused severe damage. The suspect admitted planting five bombs in Xanthi, Kavala, and Drama and is a possible suspect in the 1980-81 Athens department store arson attacks, which we believe were set by the Greek leftist terrorist group Revolutionary Group October 1980.F I 25X1 claimed credit for previous attacks on two other computer-related firms. 28 January 1983 France: Anarchists Attack Computer Center In Toulouse, the Committee for Liquidating or Diverting Computers (CLODO) claimed responsibility for the bombing of the French Government Computer 25X1 Center, causing $5 million damage. A confessor letter left at the scene also 7 February 1983 Belgium: Bombings of French Interests In Brussels, a bomb exploded at the French Ambassador's residence, followed by a second bomb at the Air France office. Initial forensic reports indicate the bombs. were skillfully assembled, but police have no clues to the identities of the _ __, Secret GI TR 83-007 31 March 1983 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 10. February 1983 Netherlands: Bombing of French Consulate In Amsterdam, a bomb exploded at the French Consulate, causing minor damage. No one was injured in the daylight attack. A claim of responsibility by the Militante Autonome Front is not being taken seriously by police, despite the group's previous claims concerning the July 1982 attack on the Netherlands Socialist Party Secretariat and the January 1983 fire in the Amsterdam under- ground railway. as foreign interests. 14 February 1983 France: Bombing of Aviation Parts Firm In Paris, an obscure group calling itself "Bakunin-Gdansk-Paris-Guatemala- Salvador" claimed responsibility for the bombing of an aviation parts firm. The group surfaced in December 1981 and says it is anti-US, anti-Soviet, and antiwar "production." It has claimed credit for 16 bombing attacks against French as well Turkey: Labor Official Slain-Correction Subsequent investigation of the assassination of the President of a Turkish labor union official in Istanbul (Terrorism Review, 3 March 1983) has revealed Dev Sol terrorists were not involved in the attack, which appears to have been a criminal assault. for the attacks, which appear related. 15 February 1983 West Germany: Car Bombs In Kassel, an incendiary device exploded under a US privately owned vehicle. A second crude incendiary device was discovered under a vehicle belonging to a US firm as the result of an anonymous telephone call. No group has yet claimed credit Guatemala: Guerrilla Cooperation Poses Increased Threat Increased combat cooperation among the three major Guatemalan guerrilla groups is a growing threat to the armed forces, Coordination is being carried out under t e aegis of the Guatemalan Nations Revolutionary Union, which, was organized in 1981 at the direction of Fidel Castro Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret authorities are pursuing this investigation for information on specific targets. Liquidating or Diverting Computers and Groupe D'Action Anarchiste. French that terrorists in the Toulouse area intend to switch the focus of attacks from civilian nuclear targets to the "military/industrial complex." Several US compa- nies located in the area are involved in defense-related production and may become targets. Two anarchist groups currently active in Toulouse are the Committee for French authorities have learned room suitable for use as a prison cell, lending credence to the kidnaping theory. planned PL kidnaping in Sicily. four PL members had 25X1 been monitoring the movements of an unidentified local "US military representa- tive." A search of Umana's summer home in a secluded area revealed a hidden the arrest on " In Sigonella, 24 February of Prima Linea (PL) terrorist Salvatore Umana may have thwarted a the attack was in reprisal for recent executions in Guatemala Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Honduran officials believe Honduras: Guatemalan Consulate Bombed A small homemade bomb thrown from a taxi slightly damaged the Guatemalan Consulate in Tegucigalpa. Credit was claimed by the Lorenzo Zelaya group, 25X1 which has often engaged in joint operations in Honduras with the Salvadoran 10 March 1983 France: Terrorist Threat to French Industry 12 March 1983 India: Another Explosion Despite NAM Security An explosion in the lavatory of the New Delhi post office resulted in one injury. As in the bomb explosions on 8 March at the bus terminal and bazaar in New Delhi, police have speculated that Sikh extremists are responsible. F___1 25X1 West Germany: Bombing of Turkish Bank In Nuremberg, a bomb exploded in front of the Turkish Bank, causing slight damage and no injuries 25X1 13 March 1983 Netherlands: Onkruit Demonstration In Rotterdam, 100 members of the antimilitarist group Onkruit occupied the US military Traffic Management Command Headquarters and painted peace slogans on the walls. Local police arrested approximately 45 individuals. Despite the minimal damage, we view Onkruit as a threat to US military installations. Its ideology and past activities are anti-US, and it is capable of conducting damaging terrorist attacks 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 14 March 1983 Switzerland: Pipe Bomb Explosion In Bern, a pipe bomb exploded in front of the Cantonal Parliament building, causing little damage. No group has claimed credit for the attack, which is the lat- est in a series of minor attacks since January. We have no indication if the attacks are related or if one group is responsible for all of them. 15 March 1983 Canada: Reward Offered for Terrorist Capture The Canadian Government has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the assassin of the Turkish Military Attache in Ottawa in August 1982. The Turkish Government has actively sought visible forms of cooperation from West European and North American governments in countering Armenian 15-18 March 1983 Lebanon: Attacks on Multinational Force Troops assigned to the MNF have become the targets of grenade and sniper attacks. An unidentified assailant threw a grenade from a passing car at a French sentry in the Ash Shiyyah area of South Beirut. One French marine was injured. On 16 March, an 11-man USMC foot patrol accompanied by a US Navy corpsman were attacked by a single male who threw a handgrenade. Hours earlier, nine Italian soldiers were wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade and gunfire from unidentified gunmen on the road to Beirut airport. We believe that Iran may be encouraging extremist Shiite groups to undertake terrorist acts against US and nothing. 16 March 1983 Japan: Incendiary Device Found at.US Naval Base Japanese newspapers received calls on 15 March claiming a firebombing of "Hario" ordnance facility. The next day an incendiary device, which had failed to ignite, was discovered in a magazine at the US naval base, Hario-Shima Ordnance Depot. Shortly thereafter the Japanese police received an anonymous call that two more devices had been placed in the area, but further inspections turned up Libyan denials concerning his whereabouts. 17 March 1983 Spain: Bombing of Libyan Embassy In Madrid, a bomb exploded outside the Libyan Embassy, causing little damage and no injuries. The Imam Musa Sadr Command of the Black Brigade subse- quently claimed responsibility for the bombing. The Imam Musa Sadr is a Shiite Muslim leader who disappeared in the 1970s on a trip to Libya. Followers of the Imam have conducted attacks to attempt to force the Imam's release, despite Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret 20 March 1983 Greece: Greek Publisher Slain In Athens, the Greek leftist group Anti-Military Struggle has claimed responsibil- ity for the assassination of a rightist Greek publisher. Police sources said wording of the confessor letter indicated the group might be the same as the one that took responsibility for the killing of CIA officer Richard Welch in 1975. The 17 November Revolutionary Organization claimed credit for two other assassina- tions in addition to the Welch killing. 25X1 21 March 1983 France: Attempted Bombing Attack on ASALA Leader In Paris, police defused a bomb attached to a car driven by the leader of the Na- tional Armenian Movement, a group with links to the terrorist Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA). ASALA has claimed responsibil- ity for numerous attacks on Turkish targets in an attempt to obtain independence for Armenia and Turkish admission of the 1915 "genocide" of 1.5 million Armenians. No one has claimed credit for the abortive bombing attempt, although ASALA representatives have publicly accused Turkey of sending "hit squads" to- assassinate Armenian leaders. 25X1 Spain: Basque Kidnaping In San Sebastian, the Anti-Capitalist Autonomous Commandos (CAA) has claimed responsibility for the kidnaping of a Basque industrialist. The CAA is an anarchist offshoot of the Basque separatist group Fatherland and Liberty/ Military Wing. 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Secret Secret Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/31: CIA-RDP84-00893R000100130001-6