Upload
rob
View
385
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
This document is a June 1982 study on foreign terrorist attacks against American businesses between 1/1968-12/1981.
Citation preview
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Te rrorist Attacks AgainstUS BusinessA statistical overview of international terrorist attacks against USbusiness personnel and facilities from January 1968 throughDecember 1981.
June 1982
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 2007 110/19 : c lA- R D P85M00363 R00090 1 960 027 -2
Terrorlsm: The threat or use of violencefor political purposes by individuals orgroups, whether acting for or in opposi-tion to esla blished governmental author-ity, when such actions are intended toshock or intimidate a target grou p widerthan the immediate victims.
Internatlonal Teruorlsm: ( a) Terrori :mconducted with the su pport of a foreigngovernment or organization, (b) Terror-ism directed against foreign nationals,institutions, or governmenls. lnternationalterrorism has involved groups seeking to
overthrow specific regimes, fo rectify per-
ceived national or group grievances, or toundermine international order as an endin itself.
\
A roved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027 -2
Approved For Releas e 2OO7l1Ol19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2I etronst AnacKs AgeinstUS Business
The number of international terrorlst inci-dents against US business personnel andfacilities increased steadily from 1968 to1974, declined slightly in the rnid-1970s,rose again in 1978 primarily due to attacksin fran, and subsequenily decfined (see
figure 1) . These attacks resulted in 1S USbusinessmen dead and 62 wounded.
Trends
From January 1968 through December1981, 30 percent of all international terror-ist attacks against Americans were direct-ed against businessmen or business instal-lations. We recorded 953 international
Figure 1
International Terrorist Attacks Against USBusiness Personnel and FacilitiesJanuary 1 968-December 1 981
Approved For Release 2O07 l1ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 2OO7 llOl1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Tahfe 1
In[ernational Terrorist IncidentsAgainst US Businees, 1968-8tr
1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Tolrl.
Kidnaping O 0 3 3 2 17 6 7 5 5 3 2. 3 61 (6.4)
Barricade-hos1age000001001000 1 5 (0.5)
Letter bombi 200000104000lncendiarybombing 0 0 6 27 1 I 18 4 17 5 27 15
7 (0.71
7 138 ( 14.5)
24Explosive bombino 5 34 24 23 47 42 72 52 32 35 53 28 29 s(p (52.5)
0 23 (2.4)Armed attack 010002213371 3
0114 5 28 (2.e)
Assassination 10 2 2e (3.0)
Sabotaoe 2302
1
13
1
16
0
51
0 7 (0.7)
0 100 (1 1 .4)Threat
000 0
Theft, break-in 20 0 16 (1.7)
Conspiracy 00 4 (0.4)
Hoax 00Sniping 00
_ s 7 (0.7)
1 13 ( 1.4)
Other actions 01 6 (0.6)
Total I(0.8)
88(e.2)
10E(1 1.3)
72(7.6)
90(e.4)
37 38(3.e) (4.0)
57 57(6.0) (6.0)
00 151 68(6.3) (1s.8) (7. 1)
66 53 95ll(6.e) (s.6) (1oo.o)
" Figures in parentheses ate petcentages ol the total.u Includes hijacking by land, air, and sea.
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 lo 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 slable, 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.
2
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.
Attacke in 1981
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, Glif-
ford Bevins, of Goodyear Tire Company
Aooroved For Releas e 2OO7110119 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
_ Approved For Release 2007/10/19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2Table 2
Types ol Terrorisl Attackgon US Buginess, 1968-81, by Region
NorthAmerica
Latin WesternAmerica .Europe
Sub-SaharanAfrica
Middfe East Asiaand NorthAfrica
Pacif ic Total u
Kidnaping 61 (6.4)
Barricade-hostage s (0.5)
Letter bombing 7 (0.7)
Incendiary bombing 37 36 f38 (14.5)
Explosive bombing 221 108 16 500 (52.5)
Armed attack 12 23 (2.4)
Hijacking u 22 28 (2.e)
Assassination 21 2s (3.0)
Sabotage 7 (0.7)
Threat 16 109 ( 1 1.4)
Thett, break-in 13 16 ( 1,7)
Conspiracy 4 (0.4)
Hoax 7 (0.7)
Sniping 13 ( 1.4)
Other actions 6 (0.6)
Tolal 1sit(16. 1)
&7(42.7)
fla(18.s)
12(1.3)
170( 1 7.8)
323(3.4) (0.3)
953( 100.0)
" Figures in parentheses are percentages of the total.u Includes hijacking by land, air, and sea.
was killed by leftist guerrillas in Guatemalaon 13 August. The attacks occurred in 19
countries: 22 groups claimed credit for theattacks.
Typee of Attack
lnternational terrorists have used afmost
every type of violence against US businesspersonnel and facilities, ranging from tele-phone threats to murder. We have record-
ed 645 bombings, 61 kidnapings, 29 as-
sassination attempts, and 23 armedattacks 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 rna-
jority of the bombings did not cause signifi-
cant damage. Bombings against US busi-ness facilities occurred in 38 countries,
3
with the greatest number occurring in Ar-gentina, lran, ltaly, and Mexico. Bombings
are a preterred method in part because
explosives are relatively easy to obtain and
the attacks normally involve little risk to theperpetrators.
Hostage Seizures. Since beginning 1968
there have been 94 attacks in which US
business personnel were taken hostage
against the satisfaction of monetary orpolitical demands by internationaf terror-ists. Almost two-thirds of these were kad-
napings, but seizure incidents also includ-
ed skyjackings and hostage and barricadesituations. The largest annual totaf of kid-
napings and hostage seizures was 21 in1980, almost four times the annual aver-age lor the 1 968-81 period.
Financiaf dernands were most often made
for the refease of business personnef, butother demands included the release ofimprisoned terrorists, publicity for a politi-
cal statement, or a safe getaway for the
Aooroved For Releas e 2OO7l1ol19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Releas e 2OO7 | 101 1 9 : C lA- R D P85M00363R00090'I 9 60027 -2terrorists. In over three-fourths of the hos- with terrorists are airlines (Pan American,
tage takings, the terrorists were able to Braniff) , engineering firms (Bechtel) , agri-
achieve at least some of their dernands. cultural equipment cornpanies (John
Deere) , and high-technology enterprises(lBM, Burroughs, Honeywell) .
Incidents Resulting inIniuries or Deaths
Attacks against US business personnel
that cause casualties are almost alwaysperpetrated by experienced terrorist orga-
nizations, provoke a response from the
highest levels of government and Gorpo-
rate managernent, 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 Gentral America, and
declined in 198 1 (see f igure 2) . Since
1976 the number of attacks with casualties
has fluctuated between 15 and 19 each
year, with an annu al average of 17 over the
past five years. The rate during the first five
months ol 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, lran, the United States, the Philip-pines, Mexico, and Guatemala. Sixty ter-
rorist groups clalmed credit for these
attacks. Bombings and assassinations ac-
count tor 75 percent of the attacks with
casualties. Our records chronicle 27 assas-
sination attacks and 82 bornbings that
caused casualties. Other categories of at-
tacks-kidnapings, barricade and hostage
situations, and skyjackings-account for
only a small portion of the casualties.
Approved For Release 2007 110/19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
The seizure of US businessrnen by interna-
tional terrorists has occurred every year
beginning with 1970. Alrnost 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 nurnber of
incidents in Argentiho, Guatemala, and
Colombia. Thirty-six terrorist groups have
clairned credit for these attacks.
Assass inations. 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 locaf
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, particufarly in Ar-gentina and Guatemala.
Typee of CompanieeTargeted
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 tirms, including
Chevron, Mobil, Exxon, Gulf, and Texaco,
have been frequent targets. International
banks and financial enterprises, such as
Chase Manhattan, the Ghemical 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-Palrnolive, Ford, Chrysler,
Macy's, Sears, and McDonald's fall in this
group. Targets only slightly less popular
Approved For Release 2007 | 10/1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Figu re 2International Terrorist Attacks Against USBusiness That Caused CasualtiesJanuary 1968-December 1 g81
Location ol lncidents
Since January 1968, incidents of intonr-tional terrorism against US business per-sonnel and facilities have occurred in 56countries (see appendix A) . More than 40percent of the attacks occurred in only sixcountries, however, and the greatest num-ber occurred in Argentina, primarily be-cause the Montoneros routinely targetedUS business interests during the early andmid- 1970s. Other countries where a largenumber of attacks occurred were the Unit-ed States, lran, Mexico, Guatemala, andItaly. In the United States and ltaly, theattacks were usually carried out by foreignrather than indigenous terrorists. In theUnited States, for example, terrorists trom10 countries carried out attacks against
business facilities or personnel. In ltaly,Italian terrorists were involved in only S0percent of the 59 attacks. In Argentina,lran, Mexico, and Guatemala, the incidentswere afmost afways the work of indigenousgroups.
More than 60 percent of all incidents oc-curred in Latin America and WesternEurope (see figure 3 and table 3) . Mosthostage takings and assassinations oc-curred in Latin America, and about one-third of the casualties were recorded there.Terrorist groups carried out attacks assymbolic action against US power, wealth,and influence in the region or in an attemptto undermine the focal regime by attackingAmericans.
Approved For Release 2OO7 11011 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027 -2
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Figure 3Locations of f nternational Terrorist AttacksAgainst US Business, 1968-81
Middle East andNorth Africa Latin Arnerica
Western Europe
Total Attacks:953 alncludes Asia,Sub-Saharan Africa. and the Pacif ic.
Although 176 terrorist attacks were re-
corded in Europ€, only 9 percent resultedin casualties. As with all terrorist attacks,
incidents involving US business are often
carried out where they will receive the mostpublicity, and the large urban areas ofWestern Europe provide the perfect settingfor such actions. Our records show that
about one-third of all attacks in Western
Europe involved European terrorists; ter-
rorists trom six non-European countries
carried out most of the other attacks in theregion.
International TerroriitGroupc
A totaf of 98 terrorist groups (see appen-
dix B) have claimed credit for attacksagainst 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
6
mid-1970s, has claimed responsibifity formore attacks than any other group. Theyconducled a wide range of operationsagainst US businesses, including assassi-
nations, kidnapings, and all types ofbombings.
The Peoples Revolutionary Army also con-ducted nurnerous attacks against US busi-ness personnel in Argentina during themid- 1970s. Our records show that thisgroup has not carried out an attackagainst American business since 1976.
Other groups that have carried out numer-ous operations include the 23 SeptemberCommunist League in Mexico, a studentassociation in lran, and the Moro NationalLiberation Front in the Philippines.
Othera
N orth America
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ql1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027 -2
Approved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Table 3
Geographic Distribufion of InlernationafTerroriet Attacke Against US Buginess, 1968-81
1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1979 1929 1990 19Bl rotst
North America 19 10 13 21 11 13 26 17 1silLatin America 43 55 20 51 26 24 14 25Western Europe 31 28 17 10 17 15 170
Sub-Saharan Africa 12
Middle East and NorthAfrica
10 81 32 170
14
Pacific
Tolal 108 72 151 68
7
Aooroved For Releas e 2OO7110119 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Releas e 2OO7 l1ol19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027 -2
Appendix A
Locations of Internallonal TerrorislAltackl Againlt US Burinear
Abu DhabiAngofaArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBoliviaBrazilChileColornbiaCosta Rica
Dominican Republic
EgvptEl SalvadorEthiopiaFranceGreeceGuatemalaHondurasHong Kong
lndonesialranlreland
lsraelItaly
JordanKuwaitLebanonLesothoLuxembourgMalaysiaMartiniqueMexico
MoroccoNetherlands
Netherlands Antilles
NicaraguaNorway
PakistanPeru
PhilippinesPortugal
Saudi Arabia
SpainSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTrinidad and Tobago
TunisiaTurkey
United Kingdom
United States
UruguayVenezuela
West GermanyZimbabwe
I
Aooroved For Releas e 2OO7 tlOl1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 20A7 l1Ol19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027 -2
Appendix I
Itlajor Groupr Clalmlng Reaponaibllltyfor International Terrorist AltackrAgainel US Bueinesa Employees and Facilltie!
This list includes names of organizations responsible either by claim or attrlbution forspecific international lerrorist actions noted in the statistics. The inclusion of any groupshould not be interpreted as an evaluatlon of that group's goals or motives, Some attacksmay have been carried out without the approval, or even foreknowledge, of thatorganization's leaders. Also, claims of responsibility may be falsely made by opponentsof the organizalion ln an attempl to dlscredit 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 namesmay have been used by common criminals to mislead police investigators or bypsychotics seeking public recognition.
Acilciler (Turkey) Forces Populares de April 25 (Portugal)Alacran Scorpion (Guba) Front for t,te Liberation of Aceh FromAl Saiqa (Palestlne) Sumatra (lndonesia)April 6th Liberation Movement Front for the Liberatlon of Angola
(Philippine:i) (Angota)Arab Communist Organization (Palestine) Front for the Liberation of CabindaArab National Action Organization (Cabinda)
(Worldwide) Front Line (ltaly)Arab Nationallst Youth Organizatlon for Greek Anti-Dictatorial Youth (Greece)
Liberation of Palestine (Palestine) Greek Military Reslstance (Greece)Argentine Liberation Front lArgentina) Greek People (Greece)Armed Forces of National Liberation Guerrilla Army ot the Poor (Guatemala)
(Venezuela) International Revolutionary MovementArmed Revolutionary Party of the People (Worldwide)
(El Salvador) lranian Peoples Strugglers (lran)Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation January 31 Popular Front (Guatemala)
of Armenia (Armenia) Japanese Red Army (Japan)Bandera Roja (Venezuela) Jewish Armed Resistance (US)Basque Fatherland and Freedom (Spain) Kurdish Liberation Army (lran)Basuto Land Congress Party (Lesotho) Latln American Antl-Communist ArmyBlack September (Palestine) (CuUa)
Catalan Socialist Party for National Liber- Lebanese Revolutionary Guardation (Spain) (Lebanon)
Cayetano Carpio Movement (El Salvador) Left Acapulco Guerrillas (Mexico)Committee for Revolulionary Integration MarxisFLeninist Armed Propaganda Unit
(Venezuela) (Turkey)Communist Labor Organizalion Montoneros (Argentlna)
(Lebanon) Moro National Liberation Frontcuban Action communists (cuba) (philippines)El Condor (Cuba) Movement Brothers of Palestine (France)El Poder Cubano (Guba) Movement of the 19th of April (Cotombia)Eritrean Liberation Forces (Eritrea) Movement of the Flevolutionary LeftFarabundo Marti National Liberation (Peru)
Forces (El Salvador) National Front for the Liberation of theFatah (Palestine) Congo (Congo)First ol October Oroup of AntFFascist National Liberation Army (Bolivia)
Resistance (Spain) National Liberation Army (Colombia)
11
Aooroved For Releas e 2OO7l10l19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 2OO7 11011 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
National Liberatlon Front (Brazil) Revolutionary Organization of lhe People
Omega 7 (Cuba) in Arms (Guatemala)
Organization ol Revolutionaries Revolutionary Party of Central American
(Venezuela) Workers (El Salvador)
Orly Organization (Armenia) Sandinista National Liberation Front
Pedro R. Botero Command (Cuba) (Nicaragua)
People's Resistance Army (Greece) Self Delense Against All Authority
PeoplesRevolutionaryArmy(Argentina) (France)
Peoples Revolutionary Army (El Salvador) Terrorist Group of Badizardegun (lran)
Peoples Revolutionary Front (Philippines) Towhid (lran)
People's Sacrifice Guerrillas (lran) Tupamaros (Uruguay)
Peronist Armed Forces (Argentina) Turklsh Peoples' Liberation Army
. Poor Peoples Army (Mexico) (Turkey)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales- Turkish Revolutionary Youth Federatlon
tine (Palestine) (TurkeY)
Popular Liberation Forces (El Salvador) United Front Guerrilla Action (Colombia)
Popular Revolutionary Bloc (El salvador) Venezuelan Revolutionary Party
Popular Revolutionary Struggle (Greece) (Venezuela)
Popular Revolutlonary Vanguard (Brazil) we Must Do Something (France)
Proletarian Justice (worldwide) white warriors (El se.ivador)
Proletarian squad (ltaly) worker's Direct Action (France)
proletariat International (ltaly) Workers Party of Guatemala (Guatemala)
Provisional lrish Republican Army (North- Workers Self Defense Movement
ern lreland) (Colombla)
Bed Army Faction (west Germany) Young Prolitarian organization lor
Red Brigades (ltaly) Communism (ltaly)
Red Guerrilla (ltaly) Youth Action Group (France)
Revolutionary Action Front (Honduras) 23 September communist League
Revolutionary Armed Forces ol Colombia (Mexico)
(Colombia) 3 October (Armenia)
Revolutionary Armed Squads (ltaly)
12
Aporoved For Releas e 2007l10l19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Appendix G
A Chronology ol Significant AttackgAgalnrt US Businege 1970-81
1970 1 DecemberUrttguay. Members of the Tupamaros bombed the Mon-
tevideo offices of International Telephone and Telegraph,
causing damage.
6 FebruaryNetherlands. Oil tanks befonging to Gulf Oil's gas-pump-
ing station in Ravenstein were set on fire by explosions.Reports clairned that two Palestinians, a Jordanian, a
Belgian, dfl Algerian, and a Frenchman were responsible
for the sabotage. French authorities arrested the Algerian.
In March the Belgian was caught and sentenced to threeyears' imprisonment, with 30 months of the sentence
suspended.
16 OctoberArgentina. 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 calf 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 rnilitary officers. (On 17 October 1945 Peron
was released from prison under the pressure of public
demonstrations. )
27 DecemberArgentina. Vicente Russo, Director Generaf of Operations
for Standard Electric of Argentina, a subsidiary of theInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, was
kidnaped in Buenos Aires by the Montoneros. He wasreleased unharmed on 30 December. Company officiafsrefused to comment on local newspaper accounts of aransom payment of between $ 100,000 and $ 1 million.
1972
13
roved For Releas e 2007110119 : clA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Release 2007t1ot19 : ctA-RDp8sMoo363Rooo9o1 960027-21973 14 April
Lebanon. Twenty members ol the Lebanese Revolution-ary Guard overpowered a guard and set explosive chargeson 20 oil storage tanks belonging to the US-owned Caltex-Mobil Company in the Sidon area. One of the tanks wasdestroyed, two were badly damaged, and a fourth wasslightly damaged. An army demolitions team removed
charges from 16 other tanks. The group was protesting
American support ol lsrael and appears to have conslstedof males wearing masks.
30 AprilArgentina. A bomb exploded In a Cordoba buildingowned by Goodyear, causing serious damage but no
injuries, The Peoples Revolutionary Army later claimed
credit lor the attack.
18 JuneArgentina. US citizen John R. Thompson, President andGeneral Manager of Firestone Tire and Rubber Com-pany's subsidiary in Buenos Aires, was kidnaped byseveral 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,
lired a few rounds in the air, and drove off. Thompson was
released unharmed on 6 July after his company paid a $3million ransom.
4 OcloberColombia. Fifty National Liberation Army guerrillas at-tacked a facilily of Frontino Goldmines and kidnaped twoUS citizens who were employed there, In a letter received
the next day by Inlernational Mining Gompany, the gold-
mines' owner, the group demanded a ransom of 4 millionpesos (US $168,990). The company attempted to pay
the ransom, but Colombian authorities seized the money
when the company representatlve tried to pay off the
kidnapers. The Golombian Army rescued the two men on
7 March 1974 atler surrounding the terrorists' hideout.
6 DecemberArgentina. Victor E. Samuelson, 37, manager of the Esso
Argentina Oil Relinery at Campana, was kidnaped atgunpoint by members of the Peoples Revolutionary Armywhile 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 topoor 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 retused,
Approyed For Releas e 2oo7l1ol19 : C|A-RDP85M00363R000901960022-2
14
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : c rA- R D P85M00363R00090 1 960027 -2fearing government reprisaf. Unspecified problems madethe payment of the goods unfeasible, and the companymade a direct cash payment to the group of $ 14.2 millionon 1 1 March 1974, setting a record for political ransompayments as of that date. one military expert said theransom money was enough to equip and maintain nearly1,500 guerrillas for more than ayear. samuelson wasreleased on 29 April and left for the united States on12 June. The Peoples Revolutionary Army announced thatit had donated $5 million of the ransom money to theRevolutionary coordinating Junta, a group composed ofthe Peoples Revolutionary Army of Argentina, the Revolu-tionary Left Movement of Chile, the National LiberationArmy of Bolivia, and the Tupamaros of Uruguay.
22 FebruaryGreece. The People's Resistance Army placed fivebombs in the Dow Chemical Plant at Lavrion, about 65kilometers outside Athens Four of the bombs expfoded,causing material damage. Two Greek demolition expertswere killed attempting to defuse the fifth bomb.
21 NovemberPertt. A bomb exploded in a Sears Roebuck store in Lima,causing $30,000 damage and injuring 11. Police receivedan anonymous cafl warning of the bomb 30 minutesbefore the blast, In June 1g7s the Lima press reportedthat the Revolutionary Vanguard, an extreme leftist group,was responsible.
15 DecemberFrance. Bombs exploded outside TWA offices in Paris. Noinjuries were reported in the attack. The youth ActionGroup, an extrerne rightwing organization, claimed creditsaying that they were protesting the meeting in Martiniqueof the Presidents of France and the United states.
15 DecemberFrance. Bombs exploded outside Coca-Gola offices inParis, No injuries were reported in the attack. The extremerightwing Youth Action Group claimed credit saying thatthey were protesting the meeting in Martinique of thePresidents of France and the United States.
16 DecemberFrance. A bomb exploded at the Minnesota Mining andManufacturing Gompany, shattering windows. No injurieswere reported in the attack. The extreme rightwing YouthAction Group claimed credit saying that they were pro-testing the meeting in Martinique of the presidents ofFrance and the United States.
197 4
15
roved For Releas e 2007l10l19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Release 2007 110/19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
1975 11 AprilKuwait The American Lite Insurance Company office in
Kuwait sustained considerable damage by a bomb, Ku-
waiti press credlted the blast to the Cornmunist 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 f rom three to 15 years, to be
followed by deporlation. Several other group members
were arrested in July 1975 in Syria and Lebanon. Those in
Syrla were sentenced shortly atter their arrest, and some
were executed.
19 JulyMexico. 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 AugustEthiopia. 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 AugustPhilippines. Two US employees of Boise-Cascade were
kidnaped by Moslem dissidents at a timber concession
near Zamboanga. They were refeased less than 24 hours
later.
22 DecemberEthiopia. Ronald Michalke, a US cltizen ernployed by the
Collins International Service Company at the Kagnew
Communications base in Asmara, was kidnaped frorn his
home, along wlth an Ethlopian 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 rnillion ransom for their hostages, which
at the time included five Arnericans. Michalke was re-
leased on 2 June 1976.
27 FebruaryVenezUela. William Niehous, 44, President of the Owens-
f f finois Glassmaking operations in Venezuela, was kid-
naped from his home by Seven armed, uniforrned 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 Cornmandos-Operation Ar-
gimiro Gabaldon-claimed credit for the attack. The
1976
16
roved For Release 2OO7 11011 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2Owens company agreed to pay a $1 16 bonus to each ofits 1,600 employees In Venezuela and paid for publicationof a leaflet, "Political Manifesto," in The New york Times,Times of Lonclon, and Lo Monde. The Venezuelan Gov-ernment announced lhat it would expropriate Owens'holdings, which amounted to $25 miilion in its 18 years ofoperations in Venezuela. In March the guerrillas added a$2.3 million ransom demand to which Owens said it waswilling to contribute. Mrs. Niehous collected $S00,000lrom her family and friends and offered it as a reward. Thegroup holding Niehous said that he had been ',arrestedand imprisoned" and was to stand trlal for .,political andeconomic sabolage," being representative of a multina-tional corporation. lt was alleged that the police intercept-ed the delivery of a ransom to the group's mailboxes. Thenegotiations with the kidnapers bogged down, and variousreporis claimed that the body of Niehous could be foundin several locations. On 4 March 1977 a Venezuelanpoliceman was shot and kllled while watching an apart-ment thought to be used by a suspect in the kidnaping.This followed a report that Niehous's wife had identitiedfive ol the guerrillas who had kldnaped her husband,including Carlos Rafael Rodriguez Lanz, also known asCommander Anibal, the leader of the Venezuelan Revolu-tionary Party-Armed Forces of National Liberation.Nearly 400 persons were detained in the case. The casecontinued unsolved in April 1978, when The WashingtonPost otfered to serve as inlerrnediary in negotiations. Theterrorlsts responded wlth a communique asklng wh€therthe Post columnist would serve as negotiator anywhere inthe world, Niehous was rescued by Venezuelan forces in
June 1979.
1 977 31 Marchcolombia. The National Liberation Army exploded threebombs at the Bogota sears store, causing minor damage,to commemorate the death of Alexis Umano, I universitystudent killed during a confrontation with police in 1976.
11 OctoberIran. A pipe bomb exploded after being thrown throughthe window of a bus belonging to Bell Helicopter Interna-tional in lsfahan. The bus, on its regular route, wascarrying men and women to the residentiaf area from Belloffices when a rnotorcycle pulled alongside, and one oftwo men tossed the bomb through an open window. ThreeAmericans sustained minor injuries and were treated andreleased from the local hospital. Damage to the bus wasminor.
1978
roved For Release 2007 11011 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
17
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-230 NovemberItaly. A powerful time bomb exploded outside awarc-house of the Internalional Business Machines Company inBologna. The explosion smashed windows and a wall butcaused no casualties. A group calling llself the Proletarian
Squad later claimed responslbility.
1 979 24 JulyTurkey. A bomb exploded in the lstanbul offices of the
US Wells Fargo Bank, causing damage but no injuries. The
Revolutionary Left claimeil credit. The bank had been
invofved 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'sproducts.
21 SeptemberEl Salvador. Dennis McDonald, 37, t,S 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 cat.Jose Luis Paz Viera, their Salvadoran driver and body-guard, was machinegunn'ed 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' dernand.
28 OctoberEl Salvador. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation
Forces claimed credit for a bomb which exploded and
caused heavy damage but no injuries at the Bank ofAmerica branch office in San Salvador. According to acommunique 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 $120,000in 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, oneplanted the bomb, and one placed flyers under a rock.
1B
Aooroved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Approved For Release 2007 l1Ol191 980
: CIA-R DP85M00363R00090 1 960027 -27 DecemberGuatemala. Clifford Bevins of Goodyear Tire Companywas kidnaped by the Revolutionary Organization of thePeople in Arms. They demanded a ransom of $10 millionand denounced US policies in Guaternala. Bevins was
rnurdered by members of the Guerrilla Arrny of the Poorwhen government security forces raided a hideout on 13
August 1981. They were apparently holding Bevins for theRevolutionary Organization of the People in Arms.
10 DecemberTurkey. A bomb'exploded at the Pan American Airlinesoffice in lzmir. No injuries were reported. Damage to thebuilding included broken windows and some structuraldamage. Windows were also broken in several nearbybuildings. No group has claimed responsibility for theincident.
17 DecemberEl Salvador. The San Salvador office of the Bank ofAmerica was damaged oy an explosion during the night of17-18 December. The dynamite explosion also damagednearby offices. The People's Liberation Forces claimedresponsibility for the attack in a telephone call to a radiostation.
29 DecemberSpain. Two time bombs went off in Madrid, one at TransWorld Airlines and one at Swissair offices. Seven peoplewere reported Injured. Police said the Armenian terroristgroup, 3 October, cfaimed responsibility. An anonymouscaller termed the attacks retaliation for "a schemeplanned by Arnerican intelligence" against a defenselawyer for Armenians who had been assaulted in Geneva
several days before.
1981 30 AprilGuatemala. 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 165,000gallons of regular gasoline, There was no explosion of thecontents; losses were estimated at $500,000. Entrance lothe facilily was apparently gained by cutting through twochain llnk fences'while the guards were changing shitts,Two full clips for an aulomatic rifle were found in the areaafter the fire was extinguished. A new organization, theJanuary 31 Popular Front with connections to the GuerrillaArmy of the Poor, claimed credit lor the attack In acommunique distributed lo the media.
19
Aooroved For Release 2OO7 /1011 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027'2
Approved For Releas e 2007 I 1Ol1 9 : C lA-R DP85M00363R00090'| 9 60027 -25 AugustGuatemala. The Pan American World Airways office Indowntown Guatemala City was destroyed when a large
bomb exploded in it and caused a fire which gutted it and
most of lhe seven-story bullding in which lt was located.
No Inluries were reported in the early morning attack. The
January 31 Popular Front claimed responsibility for the
attack.
l5 NovemberFrance. A late nlght explosion in Paris damaged aMcDonald's restaurant. No InJuries were reported from the
blast that went otf in the basement area. Two callers
claiming membership in the September France and theOrly Organization notified the French press agency ol the
attack.
20
Aooroved For Releas e 2007l1Ol19 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901960027-2
Approved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2
Office for Combatting TerrorismDepartment of State
Aooroved For Release 2OO7 l1Ol1 9 : CIA-RDP85M00363R000901 960027-2