TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST US BUSINESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2007
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: June 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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Terrorist Attacks Against
US Business
A statistical overview of international terrorist attacks against US
business personnel and facilities from January 1968 through
December 1981.
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Terrorism: The threat or use of violence
for political purposes by individuals or
groups, whether acting for or in opposi-
tion to established governmental author-
ity, when such actions are intended to
shock or intimidate a target group wider
than the immediate victims.
International Terrorism: (a) Terrorism
conducted with the support of a foreign
government or organization. (b) Terror-
ism directed against foreign nationals,
institutions, or governments. International
terrorism has involved groups seeking to
overthrow specific regimes, to rectify per-
ceived national or group grievances, or to
undermine international order as an end
in itself.
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i erronst AttACKS Against
US Business
The number of international terrorist inci- Trends
dents against US business personnel and
facilities increased steadily from 1968 to From January 1968 through December
1974, declined slightly in the mid-1970s, 1981, 30 percent of all international terror-
rose again in 1978 primarily due to attacks ist attacks against Americans were direct-
in Iran, and subsequently declined (see ed against businessmen or business instal-
figure 1). These attacks resulted in 15 US lations. We recorded 953 international
businessmen dead and 62 wounded.
Figure 1
International Terrorist Attacks Against US
Business Personnel and Facilities
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
1968 70 75 80
Total Attacks: 953
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International Terrorist Incidents
Against US Business, 1968-81
Kidnaping
0
0
3
3
2
17
6
7
5
5
3
2
5
3
61
(6.4)
Barricade-hostage
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
5
(0.5)
Letter bombing
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
7
(0.7)
Incendiary bombing
0
0
6
27
1
8
18
4
17
5
27
15
3
7
138
(14.5)
Explosive bombing
5
34
24
23
47
42
72
52
32
35
53
28
24
29
500
(52.5)
Armed attack
0
1
0
0
0
2
2
1
3
3
7
1
3
0
23
(2.4)
Hijacking b
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
6
14
5
28
(2.9)
Assassination
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
1
10
3
2
4
4
2
29
(3.0)
Sabotage
0
0
0
2
3
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
7
(0.7)
Threat
1
0
4
0
2
13
2
3
16
4
51
6
7
0
109
(11.4)
Theft, break-in
0
2
1
2
0
1
1
2
0
0
6
1
0
0
16
(1.7)
Conspiracy
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
(0.4)
Hoax
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
7
(0.7)
Sniping
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
4
0
5
0
1
13
(1.4)
Other actions
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
6
(0.6)
Total
8
37
38
57
57
88
108
72
90
60
151
68
66
53
953
(0.8)
(3.9)
(4.0)
(6.0)
(6.0)
(9.2)
(11.3)
(7.6)
(9.4)
(6.3)
(15.8)
(7.1)
(6.9)
(5.6)
(100.0)
terrorist attacks against 128 different
businesses. The proportion of attacks
against US business declined somewhat
during the last few years. In 1975, 40
percent of all recorded attacks against
Americans were against business interests,
but by 1980 attacks against American
business had decreased to 24 percent of
the total.
The annual number of attacks against US
business has varied widely during the 14
years for which we have records, ranging
from eight in 1968 to 151 in 1978. The
number has been fairly stable, however,
since early 1979, staying within a range of
50 to 70 attacks each year.
As is true of international terrorist attacks
in general, most attacks directed at US
business do not cause casualties. Only
about 15 percent of all attacks recorded
between January 1968 and the end of
December 1981 resulted in death or per-
sonal injury.
Over 40 percent of the attacks against US
business interests occurred in Latin Amer-
ica, with the remainder roughly divided
among Western Europe, the Middle East,
and North America. In all, US business
interests have been attacked by interna-
tional terrorists in 56 countries since Janu-
ary 1968.
In Latin America, businessmen are often
victims of kidnapers attempting to collect
ransom funds to support future terrorist
operations.
Fifty-three international terrorist attacks
were directed against US business person-
nel and facilities in 1981, including 36
bombings, two assassinations, three kid-
napings, and a barricade and hostage
attack. One kidnaped businessman, Clif-
ford Bevins, of Goodyear Tire Company
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Table 2
Types of Terrorist Attacks
on US Business, 1968-81, by Region
Kidnaping
0
50
1
Barricade-hostage
0
4
0
Letter bombing
3
4
0
Incendiary bombing
37
36
33
Explosive bombing
82
221
108
Armed attack
0
12
4
Hijacking b
22
2
0
Assassination
0
21
2
Sabotage
0
0
1
Threat
7
35
16
Theft, break-in
0
13
2
Conspiracy
1
2
1
Hoax
1
0
5
Sniping
0
6
0
Other actions
0
1
3
Total
153
(16.1)
407
(42.7)
176
(18.5)
a Figures in parentheses are percentages of the total.
b Includes hijacking by land, air, and sea.
Sub- Middle East Asia Pacific Total
Saharan and North
Africa Africa
0
0
12
(1.3)
5 2
2 0
170 32
(17.8) (3.4)
was killed by leftist guerrillas in Guatemala
on 13 August. The attacks occurred in 19
countries; 22 groups claimed credit for the
attacks.
International terrorists have used almost
every type of violence against US business
personnel and facilities, ranging from tele-
phone threats to murder. We have record-
ed 645 bombings, 61 kidnapings, 29 as-
sassination attempts, and 23 armed
attacks directed against US business inter-
ests since January 1968 (see tables 1 and
2).
Bombings. Bombings were the most com-
mon type of attack, accounting for nearly
70 percent of all incidents recorded. Ter-
rorists used incendiary or letter bombs as
well as conventional explosives. The ma-
jority of the bombings did not cause signifi-
cant damage. Bombings against US busi-
ness facilities occurred in 38 countries,
0
61
(6.4)
0
5
(0.5)
0
7
(0.7)
2
138
(14.5)
1
500
(52.5)
0
23
(2.4)
0
28
(2.9)
0
29
(3.0)
0
7
(0.7)
0
109
(11.4)
0
16
(1.7)
0
4
(0.4)
0
7
(0.7)
0
13
(1.4)
0
6
(0.6)
3
(0.3)
953
(100.0)
with the greatest number occurring in Ar-
gentina, Iran, Italy, and Mexico. Bombings
are a preferred method in part because
explosives are relatively easy to obtain and
the attacks normally involve little risk to the
perpetrators.
Hostage Seizures. Since beginning 1968
there have been 94 attacks in which US
business personnel were taken hostage
against the satisfaction of monetary or
political demands by international terror-
ists. Almost two-thirds of these were kid-
napings, but seizure incidents also includ-
ed skyjackings and hostage and barricade
situations. The largest annual total of kid-
napings and hostage seizures was 21 in
1980, almost four times the annual aver-
age for the 1968-81 period.
Financial demands were most often made
for the release of business personnel, but
other demands included the release of
imprisoned terrorists, publicity for a politi-
cal statement, or a safe getaway for the
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terrorists. In over three-fourths of the hos-
tage takings, the terrorists were able to
achieve at least some of their demands.
The seizure of US businessmen by interna-
tional terrorists has occurred every year
beginning with 1970. Almost 60 percent of
all hostage takings of US business person-
nel occurred in Latin America. We record-
ed business personnel held hostage in 20
countries, with the greatest number of
incidents in Argentina, Guatemala, and
Colombia. Thirty-six terrorist groups have
claimed credit for these attacks.
Assassinations. Although handgun as-
sassinations of US businessmen overseas
are rare, they attract media attention, re-
quire a response from the local govern-
ment, and have a strong impact on local
business operations. We recorded assassi-
nations each year after 1974, with the
largest number in 1976. Although assassi-
nations occurred in nine countries, most
were in Latin America, particularly in Ar-
gentina and Guatemala.
Types of Companies
Targeted
The US companies that have been the
object of terrorist attacks run the gamut
from well-known giants of world business
to small enterprises. Oil firms, including
Chevron, Mobil, Exxon, Gulf, and Texaco,
have been frequent targets. International
banks and financial enterprises, such as
Chase Manhattan, the Chemical Bank of
New York, Bankers Trust, Citibank, Bank
of America, and American Express, are
often hit-perhaps for symbolic as well as
for more practical reasons. Another cate-
gory of frequent victims includes compa-
nies associated in the public mind with the
"American way of life." Coca-Cola, Pepsi-
Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, Chrysler,
Macy's, Sears, and McDonald's fall in this
group. Targets only slightly less popular
with terrorists are airlines (Pan American,
Braniff), engineering firms (Bechtel), agri-
cultural equipment companies (John
Deere), and high-technology enterprises
(IBM, Burroughs, Honeywell).
Incidents Resulting in
Injuries or Deaths
Attacks against US business personnel
that cause casualties are almost always
perpetrated by experienced terrorist orga-
nizations, provoke a response from the
highest levels of government and corpo-
rate management, and command world-
wide media attention.
We recorded 144 international terrorist at-
tacks on American business personnel be-
tween January 1968 and the end of 1981
that caused death or injuries. The number
of these attacks was highest during the
mid-1970s when terrorist groups were ac-
tive in Argentina, declined somewhat
through 1979, increased slightly in 1980
due to attacks in Central America, and
declined in 1981 (see figure 2). Since
1976 the number of attacks with casualties
has fluctuated between 15 and 19 each
year, with an annual average of 17 over the
past five years. The rate during the first five
months of 1982 indicates that this pattern
is continuing.
Attacks against US business personnel
resulting in casualties have occurred in 31
countries, with most taking place in Argen-
tina, Iran, the United States, the Philip-
pines, Mexico, and Guatemala. Sixty ter-
rorist groups claimed credit for these
attacks. Bombings and assassinations ac-
count for 75 percent of the attacks with
casualties. Our records chronicle 27 assas-
sination attacks and 82 bombings that
caused casualties. Other categories of at-
tacks-kidnapings, barricade and hostage
situations, and skyjackings-account for
only a small portion of the casualties.
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Figure 2
International Terrorist Attacks Against US
Business That Caused Casualties
January 1968-December 1981
25
20
15
10
5
0
1968 70 75 80
Total Attacks: 144
Since January 1968, incidents of interna-
tional terrorism against US business per-
sonnel and facilities have occurred in 56
countries (see appendix A). More than 40
percent of the attacks occurred in only six
countries, however, and the greatest num-
ber occurred in Argentina, primarily be-
cause the Montoneros routinely targeted
US business interests during the early and
mid-1970s. Other countries where a large
number of attacks occurred were the Unit-
ed States, Iran, Mexico, Guatemala, and
Italy. In the United States and Italy, the
attacks were usually carried out by foreign
rather than indigenous terrorists. In the
United States, for example, terrorists from
10 countries carried out attacks against
business facilities or personnel. In Italy,
Italian terrorists were involved in only 30
percent of the 59 attacks. In Argentina,
Iran, Mexico, and Guatemala, the incidents
were almost always the work of indigenous
groups.
More than 60 percent of all incidents oc-
curred in Latin America and Western
Europe (see figure 3 and table 3). Most
hostage takings and assassinations oc-
curred in Latin America, and about one-
third of the casualties were recorded there.
Terrorist groups carried out attacks as
symbolic action against US power, wealth,
and influence in the region or in an attempt
to undermine the local regime by attacking
Americans.
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Figure 3
Locations of International Terrorist Attacks
Against US Business, 1968-81
Middle East and
North Africa
Although 176 terrorist attacks were re-
corded in Europe, only 9 percent resulted
in casualties. As with all terrorist attacks,
incidents involving US business are often
carried out where they will receive the most
publicity, and the large urban areas of
Western Europe provide the perfect setting
for such actions. Our records show that
about one-third of all attacks in Western
Europe involved European terrorists; ter-
rorists from six non-European countries
carried out most of the other attacks in the
region.
International Terrorist
Groups
A total of 98 terrorist groups (see appen-
dix B) have claimed credit for attacks
against US business personnel and facili-
ties during the past 14 years. The Monton-
eros, an Argentine terrorist group that con-
ducted most of its operations during the
mid-1970s, has claimed responsibility for
more attacks than any other group. They
conducted a wide range of operations
against US businesses, including assassi-
nations, kidnapings, and all types of
bombings.
The Peoples Revolutionary Army also con-
ducted numerous attacks against US busi-
ness personnel in Argentina during the
mid-1970s. Our records show that this
group has not carried out an attack
against American business since 1976.
Other groups that have carried out numer-
ous operations include the 23 September
Communist League in Mexico, a student
association in Iran, and the Moro National
Liberation Front in the Philippines.
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Geographic Distribution of International
Terrorist Attacks Against US Business, 1968-81
North America
2
1
1
19
10
4
13
21
11
13
26
6
17
9
153
Latin America
1
36
30
26
34
43
55
20
51
26
24
14
22
25
407
Western Europe
5
0
3
4
9
31
28
17
20
10
17
9
8
15
176
Sub-Saharan Africa
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
3
0
2
1
2
0
1
12
Middle East and North
Africa
0
0
3
6
3
10
9
8
7
6
81
32
4
1
170
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Appendix A
Locations of International Terrorist
Attacks Against US Business
Abu Dhabi
Indonesia
Pakistan
Angola
Iran
Peru
Argentina
Ireland
Philippines
Australia
Israel
Portugal
Austria
Italy
Saudi Arabia
Belgium
Jordan
Spain
Bolivia
Kuwait
Sweden
Brazil
Lebanon
Switzerland
Chile
Lesotho
Syria
Colombia
Luxembourg
Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica
Malaysia
Tunisia
Dominican Republic
Martinique
Turkey
Egypt
Mexico
United Kingdom
El Salvador
Morocco
United States
Ethiopia
Netherlands
Uruguay
France
Netherlands Antilles
Venezuela
Greece
Nicaragua
West Germany
Guatemala
Norway
Zimbabwe
Honduras
Hong Kong
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Appendix B
Major Groups Claiming Responsibility
for International Terrorist Attacks
Against US Business Employees and Facilities
This list includes names of organizations responsible either by claim or attribution for
specific international terrorist actions noted in the statistics. The inclusion of any group
should not be interpreted as an evaluation of that group's goals or motives. Some attacks
may have been carried out without the approval, or even foreknowledge, of that
organization's leaders. Also, claims of responsibility may be falsely made by opponents
of the organization in an attempt to discredit it.
Some of the names listed are cover names for organizations wishing to deny responsibil-
ity for a particular action that may have yielded counterproductive results. Some names
may have been used by common criminals to mislead police investigators or by
psychotics seeking public recognition.
Acilciler (Turkey)
Alacran Scorpion (Cuba)
Al Saiqa (Palestine)
April 6th Liberation Movement
(Philippines)
Arab Communist Organization (Palestine)
Arab National Action Organization
(Worldwide)
Arab Nationalist Youth Organization for
Liberation of Palestine (Palestine)
Argentine Liberation Front (Argentina)
Armed Forces of National Liberation
(Venezuela)
Armed Revolutionary Party of the People
(El Salvador)
Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation
of Armenia (Armenia)
Bandera Roja (Venezuela)
Basque Fatherland and Freedom (Spain)
Basuto Land Congress Party (Lesotho)
Black September (Palestine)
Catalan Socialist Party for National Liber-
ation (Spain)
Cayetano Carpio Movement (El Salvador)
Committee for Revolutionary Integration
(Venezuela)
Communist Labor Organization
(Lebanon)
Cuban Action Communists (Cuba)
El Condor (Cuba)
El Poder Cubano (Cuba)
Eritrean Liberation Forces (Eritrea)
Farabundo Marti National Liberation
Forces (El Salvador)
Fatah (Palestine)
First of October Group of Anti-Fascist
Resistance (Spain)
Forces Populares de April 25 (Portugal)
Front for the Liberation of Aceh From
Sumatra (Indonesia)
Front for the Liberation of Angola
(Angola)
Front for the Liberation of Cabinda
(Cabinda)
Front Line (Italy)
Greek Anti-Dictatorial Youth (Greece)
Greek Military Resistance (Greece)
Greek People (Greece)
Guerrilla Army of the Poor (Guatemala)
International Revolutionary Movement
(Worldwide)
Iranian Peoples Strugglers (Iran)
January 31 Popular Front (Guatemala)
Japanese Red Army (Japan)
Jewish Armed Resistance (US)
Kurdish Liberation Army (Iran)
Latin American Anti-Communist Army
(Cuba)
Lebanese Revolutionary Guard
(Lebanon)
Left Acapulco Guerrillas (Mexico)
Marxist-Leninist Armed Propaganda Unit
(Turkey)
Montoneros (Argentina)
Moro National Liberation Front
(Philippines)
Movement Brothers of Palestine (France)
Movement of the 19th of April (Colombia)
Movement of the Revolutionary Left
(Peru)
National Front for the Liberation of the
Congo (Congo)
National Liberation Army (Bolivia)
National Liberation Army (Colombia)
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National Liberation Front (Brazil)
Omega 7 (Cuba)
Organization of Revolutionaries
(Venezuela)
Orly Organization (Armenia)
Pedro R. Botero Command (Cuba)
People's Resistance Army (Greece)
Peoples Revolutionary Army (Argentina)
Peoples Revolutionary Army (El Salvador)
Peoples Revolutionary Front (Philippines)
People's Sacrifice Guerrillas (Iran)
Peronist Armed Forces (Argentina)
Poor Peoples Army (Mexico)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales-
tine (Palestine)
Popular Liberation Forces (El Salvador)
Popular Revolutionary Bloc (El Salvador)
Popular Revolutionary Struggle (Greece)
Popular Revolutionary Vanguard (Brazil)
Proletarian Justice (Worldwide)
Proletarian Squad (Italy)
Proletariat International (Italy)
Provisional Irish Republican Army (North-
ern Ireland)
Red Army Faction (West Germany)
Red Brigades (Italy)
Red Guerrilla (Italy)
Revolutionary Action Front (Honduras)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(Colombia)
Revolutionary Armed Squads (Italy)
Revolutionary Organization of the People
in Arms (Guatemala)
Revolutionary Party of Central American
Workers (El Salvador)
Sandinista National Liberation Front
(Nicaragua)
Self Defense Against All Authority
(France)
Terrorist Group of Badizardegun (Iran)
Towhid (Iran)
Tupamaros (Uruguay)
Turkish Peoples' Liberation Army
(Turkey)
Turkish Revolutionary Youth Federation
(Turkey)
United Front Guerrilla Action (Colombia)
Venezuelan Revolutionary Party
(Venezuela)
We Must Do Something (France)
White Warriors (El Salvador)
Worker's Direct Action (France)
Workers Party of Guatemala (Guatemala)
Workers Self Defense Movement
(Colombia)
Young Prolitarian Organization for
Communism (Italy)
Youth Action Group (France)
23 September Communist League
(Mexico)
3 October (Armenia)
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A Chronology of Significant Attacks
Against US Business 1970-81
1 December
Uruguay. Members of the Tupamaros bombed the Mon-
tevideo offices of International Telephone and Telegraph,
causing damage.
6 February
Netherlands. Oil tanks belonging to Gulf Oil's gas-pump-
ing station in Ravenstein were set on fire by explosions.
Reports claimed that two Palestinians, a Jordanian, a
Belgian, an Algerian, and a Frenchman were responsible
for the sabotage. French authorities arrested the Algerian.
In March the Belgian was caught and sentenced to three
years' imprisonment, with 30 months of the sentence
suspended.
16 October
Argentina. Radical Peronists bombed the new US-owned
24-story Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires. An American
tourist was killed, and two other Americans were injured.
An anonymous telephone call to the newspaper La
Prensa said the blast was the work of the Marxist
Liberation Armed Forces, but hotel employees said pam-
phlets signed by the "Maximo Mena Command" had been
found in the hotel. The Command is an extremist group of
Peron followers. A dozen bombs had exploded earlier in
Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities, mostly at the
homes of military officers. (On 17 October 1945 Peron
was released from prison under the pressure of public
demonstrations.)
27 December
Argentina. Vicente Russo, Director General of Operations
for Standard Electric of Argentina, a subsidiary of the
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, was
kidnaped in Buenos Aires by the Montoneros. He was
released unharmed on 30 December. Company officials
refused to comment on local newspaper accounts of a
ransom payment of between $100,000 and $1 million.
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1973 14 April
Lebanon. Twenty members of the Lebanese Revolution-
ary Guard overpowered a guard and set explosive charges
on 20 oil storage tanks belonging to the US-owned Caltex-
Mobil Company in the Sidon area. One of the tanks was
destroyed, two were badly damaged, and a fourth was
slightly damaged. An army demolitions team removed
charges from 16 other tanks. The group was protesting
American support of Israel and appears to have consisted
of males wearing masks.
30 April
Argentina. A bomb exploded in a Cordoba building
owned by Goodyear, causing serious damage but no
injuries. The Peoples Revolutionary Army later claimed
credit for the attack.
18 June
Argentina. US citizen John R. Thompson, President and
General Manager of Firestone Tire and Rubber Com-
pany's subsidiary in Buenos Aires, was kidnaped by
several armed members of the Peoples Revolutionary
Army. Thompson was abducted as he was being driven
from the plant when the car was intercepted by about five
autos carrying gunmen. The assailants smashed in the
windows, seized Thompson, pushed the driver into a ditch,
fired a few rounds in the air, and drove off. Thompson was
released unharmed on 6 July after his company paid a $3
million ransom.
4 October
Colombia. Fifty National Liberation Army guerrillas at-
tacked a facility of Frontino Goldmines and kidnaped two
US citizens who were employed there. In a letter received
the next day by International Mining Company, the gold-
mines' owner, the group demanded a ransom of 4 million
pesos (US $168,990). The company attempted to pay
the ransom, but Colombian authorities seized the money
when the company representative tried to pay off the
kidnapers. The Colombian Army rescued the two men on
7 March 1974 after surrounding the terrorists' hideout.
6 December
Argentina. Victor E. Samuelson, 37, manager of the Esso
Argentina Oil Refinery at Campana, was kidnaped at
gunpoint by members of the Peoples Revolutionary Army
while he was having lunch at the company club restaurant.
The group demanded a ransom of $10 million to be paid in
the form of food, clothing, and construction materials to
poor neighborhoods across Argentina. The group later
demanded an additional $4.2 million in supplies to victims
of floods. The group also demanded that a Peoples
Revolutionary Army communique be printed by 12 Bue-
nos Aires newspapers and in 30 others throughout Argen-
tina. However, all but three papers in the capital refused,
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fearing government reprisal. Unspecified problems made
the payment of the goods unfeasible, and the company
made a direct cash payment to the group of $14.2 million
on 11 March 1974, setting a record for political ransom
payments as of that date. One military expert said the
ransom money was enough to equip and maintain nearly
1,500 guerrillas for more than a year. Samuelson was
released on 29 April and left for the United States on
12 June. The Peoples Revolutionary Army announced that
it had donated $5 million of the ransom money to the
Revolutionary Coordinating Junta, a group composed of
the Peoples Revolutionary Army of Argentina, the Revolu-
tionary Left Movement of Chile, the National Liberation
Army of Bolivia, and the Tupamaros of Uruguay.
22 February
Greece. The People's Resistance Army placed five
bombs in the Dow Chemical Plant at Lavrion, about 65
kilometers outside Athens. Four of the bombs exploded,
causing material damage. Two Greek demolition experts
were killed attempting to defuse the fifth bomb.
21 November
Peru. A bomb exploded in a Sears Roebuck store in Lima,
causing $30,000 damage and injuring 11. Police received
an anonymous call warning of the bomb 30 minutes
before the blast. In June 1975 the Lima press reported
that the Revolutionary Vanguard, an extreme leftist group,
was responsible.
15 December
France. Bombs exploded outside TWA offices in Paris. No
injuries were reported in the attack. The Youth Action
Group, an extreme rightwing organization, claimed credit
saying that they were protesting the meeting in Martinique
of the Presidents of France and the United States.
15 December
France. Bombs exploded outside Coca-Cola offices in
Paris. No injuries were reported in the attack. The extreme
rightwing Youth Action Group claimed credit saying that
they were protesting the meeting in Martinique of the
Presidents of France and the United States.
16 December
France. A bomb exploded at the Minnesota Mining and
Manufacturing Company, shattering windows. No injuries
were reported in the attack. The extreme rightwing Youth
Action Group claimed credit saying that they were pro-
testing the meeting in Martinique of the Presidents of
France and the United States.
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1975 11 April
Kuwait. The American Life Insurance Company office in
Kuwait sustained considerable damage by a bomb. Ku-
waiti press credited the blast to the Communist Labor
Organization of Lebanon, which may be the Arab Com-
munist Organization. Three of the terrorists responsible
were arrested in July and sentenced in late December
1975 to prison terms of from three to 15 years, to be
followed by deportation. Several other group members
were arrested in July 1975 in Syria and Lebanon. Those in
Syria were sentenced shortly after their arrest, and some
were executed.
19 July
Mexico. Five armed terrorists claiming to be members of
the 23 September League kidnaped an American Express
executive outside his Mexico City house. He was released
two days later after the payment of an $80,000 ransom in
Mexican pesos.
23 August
Ethiopia. Two Americans were killed when an Eritrean
Liberation Forces mine exploded while they were driving
on a road near Asmara on the way to the US transmitter
facility. The duo were employed by Collins International
Service Company, working under contract for the United
States Navy at the facility.
30 August
Philippines. Two US employees of Boise-Cascade were
kidnaped by Moslem dissidents at a timber concession
near Zamboanga. They were released less than 24 hours
later.
22 December
Ethiopia. Ronald Michalke, a US citizen employed by the
Collins International Service Company at the Kagnew
Communications base in Asmara, was kidnaped from his
home, along with an Ethiopian servant, by five armed
members of the Eritrean Liberation Forces. Osman Saleh
Sabbi, Eritrean Liberation Forces Secretary General,
claimed that he had persuaded the military group to drop
a demand for a $5 million ransom for their hostages, which
at the time included five Americans. Michalke was re-
leased on 2 June 1976.
27 February
Venezuela. William Niehous, 44, President of the Owens-
Illinois Glassmaking operations in Venezuela, was kid-
naped from his home by seven armed, uniformed men.
The group tied up Mrs. Niehous and the couple's three
teenage sons, and injected a sedative into Mr. Niehous.
The group of Revolutionary Commandos-Operation Ar-
gimiro Gabaldon-claimed credit for the attack. The
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Owens company agreed to pay a $116 bonus to each of
its 1,600 employees in Venezuela and paid for publication
of a leaflet, "Political Manifesto," in The New York Times,
Times of London, and Le Monde. The Venezuelan Gov-
ernment announced that it would expropriate Owens'
holdings, which amounted to $25 million in its 18 years of
operations in Venezuela. In March the guerrillas added a
$2.3 million ransom demand to which Owens said it was
willing to contribute. Mrs. Niehous collected $500,000
from her family and friends and offered it as a reward. The
group holding Niehous said that he had been "arrested
and imprisoned" and was to stand trial for "political and
economic sabotage," being representative of a multina-
tional corporation. It was alleged that the police intercept-
ed the delivery of a ransom to the group's mailboxes. The
negotiations with the kidnapers bogged down, and various
reports claimed that the body of Niehous could be found
in several locations. On 4 March 1977 a Venezuelan
policeman was shot and killed while watching an apart-
ment thought to be used by a suspect in the kidnaping.
This followed a report that Niehous's wife had identified
five of the guerrillas who had kidnaped her husband,
including Carlos Rafael Rodriguez Lanz, also known as
Commander Anibal, the leader of the Venezuelan Revolu-
tionary Party-Armed Forces of National Liberation.
Nearly 400 persons were detained in the case. The case
continued unsolved in April 1978, when The Washington
Post offered to serve as intermediary in negotiations. The
terrorists responded with a communique asking whether
the Post columnist would serve as negotiator anywhere in
the world. Niehous was rescued by Venezuelan forces in
June 1979.
31 March
Colombia. The National Liberation Army exploded three
bombs at the Bogota Sears store, causing minor damage,
to commemorate the death of Alexis Umana, a university
student killed during a confrontation with police in 1976.
11 October
Iran. A pipe bomb exploded after being thrown through
the window of a bus belonging to Bell Helicopter Interna-
tional in Isfahan. The bus, on its regular route, was
carrying men and women to the residential area from Bell
offices when a motorcycle pulled alongside, and one of
two men tossed the bomb through an open window. Three
Americans sustained minor injuries and were treated and
released from the local hospital. Damage to the bus was
minor.
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30 November
Italy. A powerful time bomb exploded outside a ware-
house of the International Business Machines Company in
Bologna. The explosion smashed windows and a wall but
caused no casualties. A group calling itself the Proletarian
Squad later claimed responsibility.
24 July
Turkey. A bomb exploded in the Istanbul offices of the
US Wells Fargo Bank, causing damage but no injuries. The
Revolutionary Left claimed credit. The bank had been
involved in a controversial loan of $125 million to Turkey,
secured against various Turkish agricultural exports. The
government was forced to repeal the agreement following
accusations that it was mortgaging the country's
products.
21 September
El Salvador. Dennis McDonald, 37, US Engineer and
General Manager of Aplar, a subsidiary of Beckman
Instruments of California, and Fausto Buchelli, a Puerto
Rican, were kidnaped in San Salvador as they left their
factory at 5:00 p.m. Two vehicles intercepted their car.
Jose Luis Paz Viera, their Salvadoran driver and body-
guard, was machinegunned to death by the attackers who
stopped the Aplar van in front of a women's prison. The
Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers claimed
responsibility. During the week of 7 October, Beckman ran
ads in a dozen foreign newspapers to satisfy the kidnap-
ers' demand.
28 October
El Salvador. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation
Forces claimed credit for a bomb which exploded and
caused heavy damage but no injuries at the Bank of
America branch office in San Salvador. According to a
communique left at the scene, the attack was to support
the demands of Popular Revolutionary Bloc members who
had taken over government ministries. The bank's general
manager claimed the explosion caused at least $120,000
in damage. According to a municipal policeman who
witnessed the act, an automobile pulled up in front of the
bank and four people jumped out of the car, leaving the
driver. Two men guarded both sides of the bank, one
planted the bomb, and one placed flyers under a rock.
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1980 7 December
Guatemala. Clifford Bevins of Goodyear Tire Company
was kidnaped by the Revolutionary Organization of the
People in Arms. They demanded a ransom of $10 million
and denounced US policies in Guatemala. Bevins was
murdered by members of the Guerrilla Army of the Poor
when government security forces raided a hideout on 13
August 1981. They were apparently holding Bevins for the
Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms.
10 December
Turkey. A bomb"exploded at the Pan American Airlines
office in Izmir. No injuries were reported. Damage to the
building included broken windows and some structural
damage. Windows were also broken in several nearby
buildings. No group has claimed responsibility for the
incident.
17 December
El Salvador. The San Salvador office of the Bank of
America was damaged by an explosion during the night of
17-18 December. The dynamite explosion also damaged
nearby offices. The People's Liberation Forces claimed
responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to a radio
station.
29 December
Spain. Two time bombs went off in Madrid, one at Trans
World Airlines and one at Swissair offices. Seven people
were reported injured. Police said the Armenian terrorist
group, 3 October, claimed responsibility. An anonymous
caller termed the attacks retaliation for "a scheme
planned by American intelligence" against a defense
lawyer for Armenians who had been assaulted in Geneva
several days before.
30 April
Guatemala. A bomb, which exploded at the Chevron Oil
Products depot in Guatemala City, ripped a large hole in
the side of a gasoline storage tank containing 165,000
gallons of regular gasoline. There was no explosion of the
contents; losses were estimated at $500,000. Entrance to
the facility was apparently gained by cutting through two
chain link fences while the guards were changing shifts.
Two full clips for an automatic rifle were found in the area
after the fire was extinguished. A new organization, the
January 31 Popular Front with connections to the Guerrilla
Army of the Poor, claimed credit for the attack in a
communique distributed to the media.
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5 August
Guatemala. The Pan American World Airways office in
downtown Guatemala City was destroyed when a large
bomb exploded in it and caused a fire which gutted it and
most of the seven-story building in which it was located.
No injuries were reported in the early morning attack. The
January 31 Popular Front claimed responsibility for the
attack.
15 November
France. A late night explosion in Paris damaged a
McDonald's restaurant. No injuries were reported from the
blast that went off in the basement area. Two callers
claiming membership in the September France and the
Orly Organization notified the French press agency of the
attack.
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Office for Combatting Terrorism
Department of State
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