(EST PUB DATE) TERRORISM REVIEW SPECIAL EDITION: 1996 IN PERSPECTIVE

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• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00257696
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• Document Page Count: 47
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 8, 2018
• Case Number: F-2018-00353
• Publication Date: January 1, 1997

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controlled by originator
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DECL ON: X1
DRV FROM: HUM 4-82
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is Unclassified
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Report
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�scret
Terrorism Review
Special Edition: 1996 in Perspective
Page
Articles International Terrorism in 1996: A Statistical View
CTC
A total of 296 international terrorist incidents were recorded during
1996. Although the number of international terrorist incidents was
down this year�and has declined to a rate of about 400 incidents per
year over the past five years, as compared to an average of 600
during the mid- and late 1980s�the casualties from such incidents
have climbed markedly.
HAMAS: Renewing Terrorist Threats
CTC
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The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) is again threatening to
attack Israeli targets, despite the effective Israeli and Palestinian
Authority security sweeps following the bombings in February and
March 1996. Although the group's militant cells and infrastructure
were unable to conduct operations during the last nine months
because of the heightened security, its terrorist infrastructure
probably survived the sweeps. The recent agreement on
redeployment from Hebron may cause the group to put attack plans
on hold, but HAMAS probably calculates that renewed Israeli
stonewalling on the peace process will prompt the Palestinian public
to support new attacks.
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Islamic Terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Dog That 17
Has Not Barked�Yet
CTC, with contributions from
CTC
Foreign Islamic extremists continued to make inroads in Bosnia in
1996 but refrained from carrying out terrorist attacks against the
Implementation Force (IFOR) and other Western interests there.
Nonetheless, the threat to IFOR's successor, the Stabilization Force
(SFOR), could rise if the Islamic extremists view the Western
presence as a menace to their activities in Bosnia.
Stopping Terrorists in Their Tracks
Collated by the CTC Editorial Staff
This section chronicles the capture, death, or conviction of seven
terrorists in 1996. The information comes from open sources and
contributions to the Terrorism Review.
29
e et
The Terrorism Diary for February and March
Counterterrorist Center
33
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g&ret
Chronology of International Terrorism
35
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CTC
Summary of Indigenous Terrorism�December 1996
39
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CTC
Erratum
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This review is published monthly by the DC! Counterterrorist
Center Comments and queries are welcome and may be directed to
the Executive Editor on
Information available as of 24 January 1997 was used in this
Review.
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Casualties Worldwide in 1996 (u)
Number of casualties
Note vertical scale break
ED All nationalities (killed/wounded)
F771 US citizens (killed/wounded)
1600
1500
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
1,507
80
503
2
US Wounded
Wounded
". Killed 30.
Africa
fl
20
3
U$ Wounded
16
837
269
777
1.7
Asia Eurasia Europe Latin America Middle East
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International Terrorism in
1996: A Statistical View
Incidents of International Terrorism 199
Number of incidents
=1 Total incidents
Incidents with casualties
.4r.:4024,
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
-20
10
CI Africa Asia Eurasia Europe Latin Middle
America East
356264AI 1.97
Although the number of international terrorist inci-
dents was down this year�and has declined to a rate
of about 400 incidents per year over the past five
years, as compared to an average of 600 during the
mid- and late 1980s�the casualties from such inci-
dents have been climbing. A total of 296 international
terrorist incidents were recorded during 1996, as com-
pared with 440 during 1995, -a decrease of 33 percent.
The decrease was due, in large measure, to substan-
tially fewer attacks by the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) in Western Europe, especially in Germany.
Nevertheless, Western Europe continues to rank first
Anti-US Incidents During 1996
60
50
40
30
20
10
Africa Asia Eurasia Europe Latin Middle
America East
356265AI 1- ( b (3)
as the favorite locale for terrorist activity, with 121
terrorist events. Latin America was the second-most-
active region, with 84 incidents, followed by the Mid-
dle East with 45.
The United States was targeted in 73 terrorist attacks
worldwide, or 25 percent of the total, as compared to
99, or 22 percent of all incidents in 1995. Statistically,
it was more dangerous for a US citizen in 1996 to be in
the Middle East than in any other region�largely a
StiterAl
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Lethality of International Terrorism, I987-9(
Number of casualties per incident
16
14
12
to
1987 88 89 90 91
92
93
94
95
96
result of the bombing at the IChubar Towers barracks in
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in June�but more US prop-
erty was targeted in Latin America (mostly oil
pipelines that US businesses operate jointly with
Colombians), as has been the case during the past sev-
eral years. As in 1995, there were no recorded inc
of international terrorism in the US during 1996.
The trends in casualties suggest incidents are becom-
ing more lethal. Attacks in 1996 killed 311 persons
and injured 2,652 others worldwide. These figures
compare with 163 deaths and 6,291 injuries during
1995. US casualties during 1996 include 24 fatalities
356267A11-97
and 250 injuries�about 10 percent of the total�as
compared with 10 deaths and 60 injuries during 1995.
Both years, the worldwide statistics have been skewed
slightly by high casualty rates from a single incident:
in 1996, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam bombed
the Central Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing
90 persons and injuring 1,400. In 1995 some
5,500 persons were wounded during a nerve gas attack
on the Tokyo subway in March. Nevertheless, the
overall totals indicate that fewer incidents are killing
and injuring a greater number of individuals
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S ret
Types of Targets/Facilities 1996 a
� Number of incidents
Government,
10
Diplomat,
25.
Military,
6
Business,
227
a Some incidents involved more than one type of target
and therefore are�.cmmted
Reverse Blank
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3
The growing casualty figures are a result of both the (b)(3)
choice of "softer" targets and the use of weaponry that' 1�
is intended to cause mass casualties. Civilian targets
are becoming increasingly popular, as terrorists have
been thwarted by well-protected diplomatic and mili-
tary targets (the hostage taking at the Japanese
Ambassador's residence in Lima in December not-
withstanding). In addition, the use of certain weap-
onry, such as the sarin gas in Tokyo and massive high-
explosive vehicle bombs like the one used in
Colombo, are augmenting the casualty toll
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HAMAS Bombings, 1994-96
Casualties
� (kll 4.MrCh 1996- DizengPfli' Tel Av=Yafe 15/50
ihoommotsafiemoeirmso,Inwana,,k)
. _13Niarets '19_96:- -30s:APute,.131,1:West le rusale m- 18/50
.25-PebruaryH 1996 Bus stop,:, Ashq alb n � 2/25
.:.25:february--1996 .S.uaRouta1S,'West, _le ruaalem- 24/50
;:-:uvSt.J19,95- Bus ROute,26i.I.West Jerusalem 4/107
:24:A11y:1995 ,Bus:ROute: 20,13.0rnat-,Gan 6/31
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pti.V1995 , 0 utside..N ezari mr,:Gaza:Strip 1/11
December 1994 Jerusalem_ 0/13
.t.p.toa_r:-.1994- -Clizelig9ff, Tel:AviV-Yafo 22/46
Sccet
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The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) is
again threatening to attack Israeli targets, despite
the effective Israeli and Palestinian Authority (PA)
security sweeps following the bombings in Febru-
ary and March 1996. Although the group's militant
cells and infrastructure were unable to conduct
operations during the last nine months of 1996
because of the heightened security, its terrorist
infrastructure probably survived the sweeps. The
group also can draw on its cadres outside the terri-
tories to augment its terrorist cells, as well as those
HAMAS members recently released from Palestin-
ian detention. The recent agreement on redeploy-
ment from Hebron may cause the group to put
attack plans on hold, but HAMAS probably calcu-
lates that renewed Israeli stonewalling on the peace
process will prompt the Palestinian public to sup-
port new attacks.
Ready To Strike Despite Continuing Police
Pressure
The PA and Israel have cooperated closely to disrupt
the HAMAS terrorist infrastructure since the February
and March bombings, arresting more than 1,000 sus-
pected HAMAS supporters
Nevertheless, HAMAS 's terrorist capability
has survived the police actions
In the past, HAMAS has withstood similar security
sweeps because some of its leading militants avoided
capture and because the group was able to draw on its
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Targets for HAMAS Attacks (b)(3)
(b)(1)
the group has focused on buses and bJ(b)(3)
stops since October 1994. HAMAS has used disguised
suicide bombers who have carried bombs in brief-
cases or duffel bags, or who have driven car bombs
into buses or vehicle convoys. Security measures�
guards on buses, rolling checkpoints�instituted since
the bombings in early 1996 may, however, force
!JAMAS to try new tactics and/or new targets to avoid
the police and security nets. (b)(3)
cadres outside the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, who
returned to the territories and established new net- (b)(3)
works of terrorists:
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� HAMAS probably has been able to build some 7n,
cells on the strength of the dozens of HAMAS !(u)( I )
porters�including some leading militants�wli(b)(3)
had been arrested during the security sweeps last
spring but were recently released from PA detention.
HAMAS cadres in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
have the training and probably the materials to con-
duct ambushes, street shootings, and suicide bomb-
ings, despite the crackdown by the PA and Israel.
et
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. ..
HAMAS bombing of bus along the Jaffa Road in
Jerusalem on 25 February.
The Volcano Is Rumbling
By December 1996, HAMAS militants were threaten-
ing publicly to renew attacks against Israel:
� On 13 December, Izz el-Din el-Qassam released a
statement to an international news service that
declared it was preparing for military operations to
mark the anniversary of the murder of the group's
bombrnaker, Yahyah Ayyash, who was killed on
5 January 1996. HAMAS blames the Israelis for his
assassination (see page 29).
� In early December, HAMAS political leader Khalid
Mish'al claimed in a press interview that the Izz el-
Din el-Qassam had not attacked since March
because of the strong Israeli and Palestinian security
operations against them but that the police could
only hamper operations, not stop them.
Other information suggests that, in fact, HAMAS has
been planning at least one terrorist operation:
-� On 18 December, Israeli undercover border police
arrested five HAMAS militants who were on their
way to conduct an attack,
The five lived in Bethlehem and were arrested near
that city.
� During the week of 22 December, the Israeli and PA
services arrested a newly identified HAMAS cell
that was planning an operation for early January to
commemorate Ayyash's murder.
Timing Is Everything
HAMAS militants may believe that the Palestinian
populace would approve of attacks at this time
because of its growing frustration with the current
Israeli Government. The Palestinians are angry about
Prime Minister Netanyahu's policies of expanding set-
tlements, the long delay in implementing the Hebron
withdrawal, and the Israeli supreme court decision to
allow the use of physical force during questioning of
suspects. During his interview, Khalid Mish'al cited
those factors as proof of continued Israeli antipathy
toward Palestinians, saying "we believe that this
aggressive nature can only be curbed by more resis-
tance and jihad:"
� Leading Palestinian officials have denounced
� Israel's policies, and the PA's official spokesman has
referred to the Israeli Government's recent decision
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to provide financial incentives for settlers as a
"direct call for violence and a "declaration of war."
� HAMAS officials have announced that the Hebron
withdrawal agreement that the PA concluded with
the Israeli Government in January is unacceptable
and "divides Hebron between Jews and the Palestin-
ians for the first time in the history of the city, keeps
the Ibrahimi mosque under the full control of the
occupation soldiers . . and places most of the old
city of Hebron and more than 20,000 Palestinians
under the mercy of the Zionists."
� HAMAS appears to be regaining among Palestinians
support that had waned when the peace process was
moving forward under the previous Israeli Govern-
ment:
� HAMAS candidates won control of the student gov-
ernment of Al Najah University in Nabulus recently.
Arafat's
supporters say they lost the elections because of
widespread dissatisfaction with the peace process.
15
SaT.e4
� The PA sanctioned a large HAMAS rally in Gaza in
late December and another in Nabulus in January to
mark the anniversary of the founding of the group,
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In the wake of the 15 January Hebron agreement,
HAMAS militants may decide to wait for another
provocation by the Netanyahu government before
launching attacks in order to avoid angering the Pales-
tinian public the way last winter's operations did. On
20 January a HAMAS member in Hebron told a jour-
nalist that the group would suspend the use of vio- (b)(3)
lence�particularly against settlers�in Hebron and
would not confront the Palestinian Authority in
that city.
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Former Yugoslavia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Inter-Entity Boundary
Line (IEBL)
Federation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina
Muslim
Croat
Republika Srpska
r7 Serb
50 100 Kilometers
. _
0 5.0 100 Miles
Seret
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Islamic Terrorism in Bosnia and
Herzegovina: The Dog That Has
Not Barked�Yet
Foreign Islamic extremists continued to make
inroads in Bosnia in 1996 but refrained from car-
rying out terrorist attacks against the Implementa-
tion Force (IFOR) and other Western interests
there. Nonetheless, the threat to IFOR's successor,
the Stabilization Force (SFOR), could rise if the
Islamic extremists view the Western presence as a
menace to their activities in Bosnia.
Extremists Settle In
The threat to the Implementation Force from foreign
Islamic extremists�which was particularly high fol-
lowing the sentencing of the Egyptian al-Garna'at
al-Islamiyya's spiritual leader, Shaykh Umar Abd
al-Rahman, to life in prison in January 1996�dimin-
ished somewhat over the course of the year. This
decline was caused in part by the departure of the vast
majority of foreign forces from Bosnia in accordance
with the Dayton agreement. In addition, international
terrorist groups with a presence in Bosnia, including
al-Gama'at and Lebanese Hizballah, and state sponsor
Iran focused primarily on building up their infrastruc-
tures and influence in the Balkan country rather than
risk expulsion for carrying out terrorist attacks
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Sec
Small-Scale Attacks by Probable Indigenous
Elements
The diminished threat did not leave Western interests
in Bosnia entirely immune from terrorist attacks in
1996. Several low-level incidents occurred, the prime
targets of which were international and multinational
organizations assisting in the country's postwar tran-
sition. The perpetrators remain unidentified, but
observers believe disgruntled members of the former
warring factions are responsible:
4ssailants threw a
handgrenade at an office of the organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on
19 December in Foca, damaging two cars.
� A grenade was tossed into an International Police
Task Force (IF'TF) vehicle in Southern Bosnia on
22 November, There
were no injuries.
� On 5 August, security officials in Sarajevo, tipped
off by a telephone warning, defused a bomb in a
building housing OSCE offices,
� An assailant threw a handgrenade at a vehicle
belonging to a member of the local OSCE office in
Banja Luka on 28 July destroying the car and dam-
aging a nearby building.
� A grenade was thrown at an IPTF station in Grbav-
ica on 18 July. There were no damages or injuries.
� A bomb exploded outside IPTF headquarters in
Vlaserzka on 12 July damaging three vehicles and
breaking some 30 windows in nearby buildings.
Do Not Tread on Us
Although the Islamic extremists patiently endured the
one-year deployment of IFOR, the extension of the
international forces presence in Bosnia into 1997
could increase the threat level if the extremists con-
clude that the forces' activities are endangering their
own security or goals.
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1 February 1979
I February 1984
3 February 1963
4 February 1948
4 February 1979
The Terrorism Diary for February and March
(b)(3)
Below is a compendium of February and March dates of known or conceivable
significance to terrorists around the world. Our inclusion of a date or event should
not by itself be construed to suggest that we expect or anticipate a commemorative
terrorist event.
(b)(3)
Iran. Return of Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran from exile in Paris.
India. Kashmir separatist leader Maqbool Butt executed.
Iraq. Anniversary of Ba'th Revolution.
Sri Lanka. Independence Day.
Iran. Revolution Day.
7 February 1997 Quds Day or Jerusalem Day. Muslims protest Israeli occupation of Jerusalem.
(Quds Day is commemorated on the last Friday of Ramadan, which in 1997 ends
on 8 February.)
8 February 1963
14 February 1979
Iraq. Revolution Day.
Iran. Attack on US Embassy in Tehran; the Embassy was briefly occupied and the
Ambassador briefly held.
19 February 1980 Egypt, Israel. Exchange of ambassadors.
22 February 1969 Palestinians. Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine founded.
25 February 1991 Iraq. Beginning of the ground war in Desert Storm.
26 February 1993 United States. World Trade Center bombing in New York City.
2 March 1956 Morocco. Independence Day (termination of Treaty of Fez).
2 March 1977 Libya. Establishment of Jamahiriyah (Masses State).
3 March 1878 Bulgaria. Independence Day.
3 March 1961 Morocco. Accession of King Hassan to throne.
4 March 1982 Colombia, United States. Effective date of extradition treaty aimed at narcotics
traffickers.
6 March 1957
6 March 1975
Ghana. Independence Day.
Kurdish region. Algerian accord between Iran and Iraq abandoning support for the
Kurds.
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10 March 1979 Kurdish region. Death of Kurdish leader Mulla Mustafa Barzani.
11 March 1966 Indonesia President Sukarno turns over power to Suharto.
12 March 1968 Gabon. National Day.
12 March 1880 Turkey. Birthday of Ataturk.
12 March 1968 Mauritius. Independence Day.
13 March 1979 Grenada Coup d'etat by Maurice Bishop (National Day).
14 March 1975 Japan. Chukaku-ha (Nucleus Faction) Secretary General Honda assassinated by
rival radical groups.
17 March Ireland. St. Patrick's Day (National Day).
20 March 1956 Tunisia. Independence Day.
20 March 1981 Colombia Death of M-19 terrorist Carmenza Londono La Chiqui).
21 March Turkey. Kurdish New Year.
22 March 1945 Arab World. Founding of Arab League (original members: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Syria).
23 March 1956
25 March 1921
Pakistan. Pakistan Day (founding of Islamic republic).
Greece. Greek Revolution Memorial Day (celebrating beginning of independence
from Turkey).
25 March 1932 Iraq. Independence Day.
25 March 1975 Saudi Arabia. Assassination of King Faisal and accession of King Khalid.
26 March 1971 Bangladesh. Independence Day.
26 March 1978 Egypt, Israel. Peace agreement ratified.
26 March 1970 Libya. UK Evacuation Day (day British forces turned over bases and departed).
i8 March Palestinians. National Day.
30 March 1974
Turkey. Death of terrorist Mahir Cayan, member of Turkish People's Liberation
Party.
30 March 1976 Palestinians. Day of the Homeland.
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Chronology of International Terrorism
The following incidents were considered by the Intelligence Community's Incident
Review Panel since publication of the previous issue of the Terrorism Review
and were determined by the Panel to constitute international terrorism. Such
incidents provide the basis for the State Department's Patterns of Global Terrorism,
which is published annually as the US Government's official record of interna-
tional terrorism.
Africa
1 November Sudan: A breakaway group from the Sudanese People's Liberation Army kid-
napped three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers when
their plane landed in Wunrock. The hostages, a US citizen, an Australian, and a
Kenyan, were transporting five wounded Sudanese soldiers who had been released
from a Red Cross hospital in Kenya. On 9 December the rebels released the hos-
tages in exchange for ICRC supplies and a health survey for their camp.
27 December
Asia
20 November
Eurasia
1 October
8 December
12 December
17 December
Eritrea: Unknown assailants killed five Belgian tourists and their Eritrean driver
as they returned to Asmara from afield trip. No one claimed responsibility for the
attack, but the Sudanese supported Eritrean Islamic Jihad is suspected.
Philippines: Authorities detonated a bomb found in a bag in the arrival area of
the Ninoy Aquino International Airport No one claimed responsibility for the
bomb. (b)(3)
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(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Russia: Assailants attacked and killed a South Korean diplomat near the victim's
apartment in Vladivostok. No one claimed responsibility for the attack (b)(1)
(b)(3)
Tajikistan: Guerrillas attacked a jointly owned Tajik-British gold mine in
Darvaz, abducting four employees and causing an unknown amount of damage.
Two of the hostages were a Briton and a South African. The assailants occupied the
mine for five days. After negotiations, the hostages were released on 28 December
in the village of Childara
Tajikistan: A mine placed in a Pakistani Embassy vehicle detonated in front of
the Embassy in Dushanbe, destroying the vehicle and damaging the Embassy.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Tajik opposition forces or groups
opposing the cease-fire agreement may be responsible.
Russia: Gunmen broke into a residential area for the ICRC in Novyye Atagi,
Chechnya, shooting to death six ICRC staff employees while they were sleeping
and wounding a seventh. The victims included two Norwegians, a Dutch national,
a Canadian, a New Zealander, a Spaniard, and a Swiss national
-Sant-
DI TR 97-001
January 1997
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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19 December
20 December
25 December
Europe
30 September
15 November
17 November
3 December
19 December
20 December
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Bosnia-Herzegovina: An assailant threw a hand grenade at a regional office of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, causing major
damage to two vehicles. One of the vehicles belonged to the international
Implementation Force. No group claimed responsibility for the attack
Tajikistan: An armed group stopped a convoy between Fayzabad and Gharm and
seized 23 hostages, including seven UN military observers from Austria, Bul-
garia, Denmark, the UK, and Uruguay. Tajik Government officials, former pris-
oners of war, and Tajik Islamic opposition members also were taken captive. The
group claimed it was loyal tgRezvon Sadirov, a rebel leader who recently defected
to the government. After releasing 21 hostages on 22 December, the group released
one more hostage in exchange for the release of Sadirov's brother on 25 December.
The last hostage was released later without any further demands
Bulgaria: A bomb detonated outside the Serbian Embassy's consular section in
Sofia, causing minor damage. No one claimed responsibility for the attack
Turkey: Assailants threw a handgrenade at the Eastern Orthodox Church's
headquarters in Istanbul. The grenade exploded in the garden, causing minor
damage. The Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front claimed responsibility for the
attack.
Greece: A small bomb detonated in Athens underneath the car of a Dutch
Embassy employee, causing major damage to the vehicle but no injuries.
A group calling itself The Revolutionary Front claimed responsibility.
Turkey: A fire broke out at the Tozbey Hotel in Istanbul, killing 17 Ukrainians
and wounding over 40 people. The Turkish Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility
on 23 November for the attack,
France: A bomb detonated aboard a Paris subway train as it arrived at the Port
Royal station, killing four commuters and injuring 86 others. Casualties included
Canadian, US, and Moroccan nationals. No one claimed responsibility,
Greece: Unknown assailants bombed a Citibank office building in Athens, caus-
ing extensive damage to the facade, nearby vehicles, and surrounding buiklings.
Authorities believe members or sympathizers of the Revolutionary Organization
17 November or the Revolutionary People's Struggle are responsible.
Italy: An improvised incendiary device detonated outside the Peruvian consulate
building in Milan, causing minor material damage. A note found at the scene
hinted that the attack was perpetrated by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Move-
ment (MRTA), but local authorities suspect Italian sympathizers of the Peruvian
leftist group which is holding hostages in the Japanese Ambassador's residence in
Lima, Peru (see page 38).
36
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
iminApproved for Release. 2018/02/06 C00257696
26 December
22 October
7 November
7 November
7 November
8 November
1-2 December
11 December
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Greece: An incendiary device detonated outside an Athens Citibank branch
office, damaging an automated teller machine. An unknown group the the Nucleus
of Revolutionary Violence, claimed responsibility for the attack. (b)(3)
Greece: A bomb exploded outside offices housing the Peruvian Embassy in
Athens, injuring one person and causing minor daniage. The Fighting Guerrilla
Formation claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying that the attack was an
act of solidarity with MRTA rebels. (b)(3)
Colombia: National Liberation Army (ELN) members attacked the Cano
Limon�Covenas oil pipeline near Araquita, causing a spill and igniting afire.
Colombia: Assailants hurled two explosive devices at a Mormon church in
Tulua, causing minor material damage but no injuries. The attackers left several
pamphlets outside the church identifying themselves as ELN members and
denouncing US efforts to reinstate an extradition treaty with Colombia.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Colombia: An explosive device detonated in Bogota near Colombia's national
newspaper library, where representatives of the Nonaligned Movement were
meeting in the library's auditorium The explosion damaged a library office but
caused no injuries. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Chile: Six hooded individuals hurled five Molotov cocktails inside a Mormon
church on Cerro Navia, causing minor damage but no injuries. No group
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Colombia: On two consecutive days, suspected Colombian guerrillas dynamited
two sections of the Cano Limon�Covenas oil pipeline in the Arauca province,
causing major oil spills. The ELN is suspected (b)(3)
Colombia.- Five armed men claiming to be members of the FARC kidnapped
a US mining engineer in La Guajira Departamento. The engineer was working
for a company that is exploring methane gas in the region. (b)(3)
37
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17 December
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Peru: Twenty-three MR TA militants took several hundred persons hostage at
a party given at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Luna. The terrorists
. .
entered the compound dressed as waiters and set off explosions and exchanged
gunfire with police. Among the hostages were US officials; European, Latin Amer-
ican, and Asian ambassadors; other foreign diplomats and staff; several Peruvian
Government officials; and a large number of Japanese businessmen. The group is
demanding the release of all MRTA members currently in prison and safe passage
for them and the hostage takers. The guerrillas released most of the hostages in
December but are holding over 70 Peruvian and Japanese citizens.
Middle East
12 November
15 November
1 December
31 December
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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Asia
India
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Europe
Spain
Turkey
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Se&.e
Summary of Indigenous Terrorism�December 1996
This description of incidents and situations is not meant to be a detailed account-
ing of all domestic terrorist incidents, but rather to provide an overview of indige-
nous terrorism worldwide.
A bomb exploded on a passenger train in Ambala on 2 December, killing 12 per-
sons and injuring 39 others. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. (b)(3)
A time bomb exploded outside a branch office of the National Bank of Pakistan in
Karachi on 4 December, injuring 19 persons. No one claimed responsibility.
On 17 December in Karaitivu a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide
bomber on a motorcycle detonated a bomb against a police jeep, killing a police
commando and wounding his driver.
A bomb detonated in an Irun courthouse on 5 December, causing minor damage
but no injuries. The Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) claimed responsibility.
(b)(3)
ETA forces threw three grenades at a San Sebastian civil guard barracks building
on 18 December, causing minor damage to an outer wall but no injuries. Two
persons were arrested.
On 27 December assailants set fire to a police vehicle and two public buses in
Bilbao, causing extensive damage but no injuries. Authorities suspect ETA youth
sympathizers.
ETA youth supporters threw several Molotov cocktails at a Hernari train station
terminal, bank office, and several parked vehicles on 29 December, injuring a
policeman and causing extensive damage.
Gunmen opened fire at the Dargecit Mayor's house on 9 December. The gunmen
tied when security personnel returned gunfire. The Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) is suspected.
A bomb exploded next to a confessional booth inside a Catholic church in the
district of Beyoglu in Istanbul on 17 December, causing minor damage. No one
claimed responsibility.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Five armed assailants abducted the brother of the Mayor of Lice on 30 December
from his residence there. The PKK claimed responsibility on 2 January.
39
St,et
DI TR 7-001
January 1997
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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Incidents of Indigenous Terrorism During December 1996
Egypt
Boundary representation is
not necessarily authoritative.
West
3 Bank
Israel
Sr Lanka
Pakistan
40
7411320 (R00353) 2.97
(b)(3)
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United Kingdom
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Two bombs exploded in Diyarbakir on 31 December. One was near a nightclub and
the other was outside a billiard hall in a different part of town. No casualties were
reported, and no one claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded a police officer on 20 December as he
guarded a Democratic Unionist Party official visiting his son at a Belfast hospital.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) claimed responsibility.
A car bomb detonated in Belfast on 22 December, injuring a vocal PIRA supporter
and causing minor damage. Loyalist paramilitary groups are suspected.
Authorities defused an explosive device hidden on the car of a suspected PIRA
official in Londonderry on 28 December after the device became partially detached
from the car. Authorities believe loyalist paramilitary groups are responsible.
Latin America
Colombia On 17 December in Currulao Municipality, 10 Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia guerrillas bombed a market. No injuries or damage were reported. Army
members opened fire, killing four guerrillas.
Honduras
Peru
Middle East
Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Syria
West Bank
Authorities defused two bombs found at the Public Ministry Headquarters in
Tegucigalpa on 3 December. No one claimed responsibility for the attack
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
A group of 50 Sender� Luminoso rebels used sticks and stones to kill five peasants
in Abra De Porculla on 26 December. After a bus arrived they shot the bus driver in
the head and set the bus on fire. They fled shouting "death to the informers."
(b)(3)
On 11 December suspected Islamic extremists killed 20 persons and injured seven
others who were traveling on a bus in the Blida region. No one claimed responsi-
bility for the attack. (b)(3)
On 19 December in Markaz Mallawi in Al Minya Governorate, unidentified gun-
men shot and killed two policemen and wounded a third policeman and a civilian.
Al-Gama'at al-Islarniyya may be responsible
A bomb exploded on 6 December near a high school bus stop at the exit from
Ramla toward Lod, injuring a girl. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
A bomb exploded on a bus outside a terminal in Damascus on 31 December, killing
22 persons and injuring 31 others. No one claimed responsibility for the attack (b)(1)
(b)(3)
On 11 December militants opened fire on a car at the Surda Junction near the
Bet El settlement, killing two persons and injuring four others. The Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack. (b)(1)
(b)(3)
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