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Situation Report on
International Terrorism
75
SatJet 11
e*
sSotces or
otice Sensitiveend Merr.ods Involved
FOR THE CABINET COMMITTEE TO TERRORISM AND ITS WORKING GR(
Tkaot for oonoralay not bo reproduced or ivJuoed In any other dq^mim or publko-fion. noraurc* ofc" indodei Information received thflflgn cioio ol buiinm ci tne aay preceding ihe cloieBJf luuonce.
Information for ihU piretlfflKn ii bared on contribution! from cerloln agenciei^fSRrented on thef ih- Cabinet Cw^K, to Carrot Terroriim TheGroup*f represent otirei from tho Da-pertmonti. Justice,d Treoioryj ibdBSocneitk CocxJ Stotf; in* reccralcftho NatiooclfficejdWlar.ogerneri andthe UnitedioodBTtho United Natlam ond the Central Intelligence
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WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT
CONTENTS
75
Articles:
Attempted Hijack in London by an Unknown Gunman (Page 1)
U.S. Ambassador May Have Been Target of Nicaraguan Terrorists (Page 3)
Japanese.Red Army Tics to Fedayeen Weakened; Status of
Hague Terrorists (Page
Notes:
Tuparaaro National Convention Moved from Havana to Buenos Aires (Page 7)
Air India Hijacker Remains in Italian Custody (Page 7)
Rumored International Terrorist Conference in Toronto (Page 7)
hronology of Significant International Terrorist Acts
CHART: Incidence of Significant InternationalActs as Listed in Weekly Situation)
Chronology)
FomIq"
At
Ng Foreigno^fJTim Ab'ood; Cooi'oiled
errorist Threats and Plans
CHARTS: Incidence of New Threats of Terrorist Activity in Weekly Situation4 Total (Page Bl)
U.S. Targets Worldwideegional Totals (See first pages ofI below)
I. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Western Hemisphere Including United States
II. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Europe
III. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Middle East
IV. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Africa
V. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Far East
VI. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Worldwide
otential Terrorist Targets in. and Abroad
NO ForMn em *br;ad.'Diiwm
Tffil.d
ARTICLES
Attempted Hijack in London by an Unknown Gunman
A lone gunman, wearing an Arab headdress and armedunand grenade,ritish Airwayshen it landed at London's Heathrow Airport on an internal flight from Manchesteranuary. After theassengers had disembarked, the hijackertewardess hostage arrd demanded to be flown to Paris. rew of five--pilot, copilot steward and two stewardesseswas still on board. The plane was rofucledonger-range Trident jet was prepared in case the gunman wanted to go to the Middle East, but heon remaining aboard the plane he had arrived on.
According to later news reports, the man0arachute and threatened to blow up the plane unless his demands were met. The French government announced that it would refuse the plane permission to land in France. Guns were issued to the normally unarmed airport police who surrounded the aircraft with vehicles and tried to talk the hijacker into surrendering. The pilot warned that thelooked mentally unstable. Several passengers, who did not realize the plane was being hijacked until it landed, said the gurcaan was in hiswore dark glasses andcar on his chin. There was no immediate indication of his nationality.
Comment: The modus operandi of this hijacking attempt does not correspond with hijackings mounted by fedayeen The Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman, which has never engaged in international terrorism, reportedly planned toritish aircraftlane carryingpassengers in early January. (See theecember issue, There is no indication, however, that this hijacker is connected with the PFLO. r
A
M-
b.oooV Controlled DhMffl
U.S. Ambassador May Have Been Target of Nicaraguan Terrorists
snore infornationH it is increasingly apparent. Ambassador Shelton wasarget of the Sandinist NationalFront (rSLN) group who forcibly seized the home of
Minister of Agriculture onecember.reports on this aspect, however.
. Further, . a!-. oa the
party
scene theorize that the presence of Shelton's four armed guards may haveeterent.
P. m
Ineclaration published by the FSLN onecember seems to indicate that the original purpose of the operation was to seize diplomats. Since news of Castillo's party in honor of Ambassador Shelton was publicizedocal paper five days earlier, the party would have presented the terroristsonvenient target of opportunity. anuary Agence France Presse dispatch from Havana quotes an FSLN leader in Cuba as saying Shelton "escaped us because he wasnd the FSLN still hopes to capture hia. (SECRJ^NOJf DISSEM)
No ForeignAb-ood/Conrrolled Dine-
NoDiinm/Ne IBinD
Japanese Red Amy Ties to Fedayeen Weakened; Status of Hague Terrorists
tne flu does not maintain close ties with the Japanese Red Army (JRA). mlHmmmVBLmmml PLO
leaders do not understand the JRA's concept of simultaneous NJ worldwide revolution and instead are concerned withd.I') their homeland from the Israelis. They welcome outsideif it is related to this objective and is under theof the PLO leadership. however,
[tne Popular Front for the Liberatiot Palestine{PFLP) no longer supports the JRA. (Comment:referring to then which three JRA terrorists, apparently acting without .ugk the concurrence of the PFLP, seized the French Ambassador in VVjln) The Hague in order to secure the release of an imprisonedade (see the issue ofeptember).
.eader bhigenobu Fusako and the younger sister of Okamoto Kozo are currently living in Beirut. (Okamoto Kozo, the only surviving terrorist froa the2 Lod Airport attack, is currently in prison in Israel.)
The Japanese Ambassador in Damascus informedhat the four JRA terrorists who seized the French Embassy in The Hague are still under detention at the same military camp where they were taken upon their arrival in Damascus. . Embassy speculated that the Syrian government is anxious to expel the four men, but has not found another government willing to receive them. The Embassy also commented that Syria has not yet returned to the Dutch0 ransom paid to the terrorists.
Diitoffi;
i*"
Foreign Oiiiem/No DtWfmDimm
i^mUm Al
No
NOTES
Tupamaro National Convention Moved From Havana to Buenos Aires
A reliable source reports that the third nationalof the Uruguayan Tupamaros will be held inS in Buenos Aires, instead of Havana as previously believed. The Cuban government does not wish to give additional anaunition to unfriendly Latin American governments before the March meeting of the Hemisphere Foreign Ministers in Buenos Aires. The national convention will consider the future orientation of the Tupamaros and is expected to result in increased emphasis on political activity. At the present time, according to the above source, someupamaro leaders are living in Havana and form the single most important and influential Tupamaro group in exile. SEM)
Air India Hijacker Remains in Italian Custody
Italian authorities believe that Jocef Homola (previously reported ashe Canadian citizen who hijacked an Air India jetliner onecember, is mentally ill, according to. Embassy in Rome. (See the issue ofonola was delirious and appeared to be having hallucinations when he was taken into custody following the hijacking. he was imprisoned rather than hospitalized.
rotec-NTIAL)
actually took place.
NoNo-fMm Abroad/Compiled On.*
Homola has been officially charged with kidnapping, pos session of arms, and the importation of counterfeit Canadian currency. His case is being handledelfare and d. tion problem by the Canadian Embassy in Rome. FJH1
No For*ion Dittem/N
GpOBiiam
Abroad/Controlled Dwem
CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ACTS
4
Place: South Africa, Johannesburg
Parcel BombA bomb concealedook exploded in the Johannesburg post office, injuring an employee. It was addressedamily of Jewish origin, according to the police. Police have not said where the parcel was posted. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Place
5 Syria, Damascus
Egyptian and Jordanian EmbassiesBombed. Bombs exploded in the Egyptian and Jordanian embassies in Damascus, severely damaging the Jordanian offices. The bomb at the Egyptian Embassy was apparently placedoor and caused damage primarily to windows and doors. Judging from the damage, the bombs appear to have been similar in size to those used in previous bombings. installations in Syria. Selection of these two Arab embassies and ofanuary date, which coincided with the opening of the Quadripartite Conference in Cairo, suggests these bombings may have been perpetrated by the Palestinian "Rejection Front" with possible Iraqi backing, according to. Embassy. It is also possible that they were the work of the so-called Arab Communist Organization,that group usually has publicly acknowledged its bombings. (CONEaJpNTIAL)
Foreign Orttem/N
Diiiem
Abi
No foreign Dim MsAbrood/Conl'olivd
5
Place: England,
Heathrow Airport
British Airways
An armed man in anritish Airways jetliner as it landed at Heathrow Airport and said he would blow it up withand five crew members unless he could take off for Paris0arachute. It is unclear whether the man was acting from personal or political motives. He apparently has no accomplices. (See (UNCLASSIFIED)
A-3
fJa Foicifl"QfVrn Ab-ood/Cont'olUd Omen
No Foreign Otuam/No
Diiwm
I. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Western Hemisphere, Including the United States
Place:
Date:
ARMORY
United States, Fort Worth
Current
revolutionary Mexican group known as The Cabanas isto break. armory in Fort Worth, Texas, to steal rifles. (Seeecember issue,UNCLASSIFIED)
Place:
Date:
Lebanese Installations
United States, New York
Current
memDer ox irgunormer Israeli terrorist organization) who,threatened that all Lebanesein New York would be wrecked. (Seeecember^ issue, (CONpP-
PROMINENT JEWS
Place: United States, West Coast New York.
he Jewish Defense League received an anonymouscall warning that two prominent Jews would beon the West Coast and in New York or, according to an FBI report. The caller hinted that the PLO was involved in the threat. He claimed
ew threat reported for the firstevisionhreat reported in previous issues
Mo Foreign Dtuem/Noj^Hnnilttem
So Foreignled Dinnm
to be calling on behalf of certain organizations which he refused to identify. (UNCLASSIFIED)
S
Unidentified terrorists may kidnap or assassinate apersonality at the Grand Prix of Argentinaforanuary. (SeeecembgJ issue,CONI^^NTIAL)
Place:
Date:
OFFICIAL
Argentina, Buenos Aires
Current
The director of USIS in Buenos Aires may be the target of terrorist action, accordingaid-December Embassy report. An unidentified womanackage was chased away from the director's garageecember. She ranar in which companions were waiting. The federal police speculated that the woman might have been trying to place an explosive device. Security has been increased at the residence.L)
Nom -
No Portion Dimm/No qJIm Abroad/Controlled
. Nicaragua,
The Sandinist NationalFront (FSLN) is planning to kidnap. Ambassador to Nicaragua and presently has him underress report from Cuba, of unknown reliability. (Comment: The FSLN recently negotiated S: million ransom, the release ofuerrdllas,light to Cuba inforrisoners they held. SeeUNCLASSIFIED)
At
No Foioig" Dttttm/No^riRtnl Abroad/Controlled Diii*r
No Foreign Di.vom/No-fKm Abrood/Controlled 0;
Terrorist Threats and Plans: Europe
Unspecified,
Possibly Jewish Emigre Center
Place: Austria, Vienna
Salah Khalaf, head of the bso, is planning toeries of internationaloperations. The first incident reportedly will be an explosion in Vienna,us, to protest continued Austrian assistance to Soviet Jewish emigres. (Seeecember issue,, (SECRETjdp)E
TCj-W: INCLUDED^ ANY OtfTkR
ndwiMENT or
Place: Date:
PERSONNEL AND INSTALLATIONS
Turkey Current
*
EM)
The Turkish People's Liberation Army has been planning toU.S. personnel andin Turkey in order to secure the release ofcomrades, according to an Air Force report. This threat may have beenthough, by the recent arrest of several TPLA members. (See Articles.) (conbj^NTIAL/
NO FOREIGN
El Al Aircraft
Israeli Western
PFLP chief George Habbashdirected the PFLP to focus its attention ontargets in Western Europe, and mentioned the need toan El Al aircraft and assassinate Israeli diplomats. (Seeecember issue, page CSJflAT/NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NOjajpBcM ABROAD/CON-TROLLED
No Foreign Diirem/NoJHp Abrood/Coni-olkd Diirem
No rnroiyn Dmem/No
Diitem
Terrorist Threats and Pi
Middle East
Place:
Date:
Possibly Israel Unspecified
PLO will attempt to secure the release of Archbishop Ca-pucci by diplomaticthrough Saudi Arabia and. If suchfail, the PLO plans to resort to dramatic violent means to secure Capucci's (Seeecember issue, ism ET/N( fig] EIGNILJiJEEM ABPsWtf CONTRO^ED DIS^W)
Jordanian Mini stries
British Embassy
Place: Jordan, Amman
Date: Current
Fatah may be preparingto be carried outand the Westweapons brought inostensiblyfrom the Hajj Targets includeministries ofAffairs andthe British Embassy (Seeecember FOi^jjfcGN DISSEM) ^
. EMBASSY OR PERSONNEL
Place: Lebanon, Beirut
The PFLP is planning anagainst. Embassy in Beirut using rocket-firing devices fittedar. An alternate plan is to. diplomats or their (Seeecember issue, (SE-CRET/NQ^DREIGN DISSpfc/NOj*FLLED DIS-
foreign Oittem/No^^Kem Abroad/Controlled Oiitem
sew
No foreignobroad/Controlled DJ.rem
V. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Far East
USIS Taiwan,
An unidentified malespeaker telephoned the USIS switchboard operator in Taipei and warned that his friend was going toime bomb there. Nowere foundearch of the building, but security has been increased in case someone mayomb there. L)
No foreign. No SLtWS" Abrood/Controlled Dme<-
No Foreigno
Oil
POTENTIAL TERRORIST TARGETS IN.OAD
Thisist of persons and events, arranged chronologically, which might attract terrorist attack. The following symbols are used when applicable: Reported for the firstevision of report in previous issue.
Israeli Foreign Minister
Place: United States,
.
ofanuary
sraeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon will visit, among other cities the week beginninganuary. State Department hascustody. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Target: i Place:
|
t Date:
U.S. Diplomatic Community
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Asmara
Current
he political situation in Ethiopia is deteriorating and thererowing anti-American mood,umber of minor harassment incidents reported and the anticipation of more attacks. citizens as the situation worsens^^H
the insurgent fighting around Asmara, while not directed. citizens, could result into them coincidentally. (SE-*tr/N0 FORSjM^DISSEM)
If
Various Latin
American Countries
Place: United States
arious Latin Americanthat favor lifting sanctions against ordiplomatic relations with Cuba continue to be possible targets for terrorist acts by^nti-Castro groups. (CONFJjPrriAL]
C-l
Foreign Dim'
Diite"
No Foreign Da rem/No
lad Oiu
Place:
Date :
Personnel
Uruguay, Montevideo
Current
U.S. Embassy personnel in Uruguay could become theof terrorists because of internal conflicts between the military and extremists resulting from theof the Uruguayan military attache ln Paris. The Embassy has increased its security
precautions. (CONI
C-2
No Foreign Diirem/NqafMeni Qm
NoDUMm/NojAfpSm Aferood/Cont-oliod
Distribution: Ambassador Lewis B. Hoffacker
Special Assistant to the Secretary Department of State
General Benjaminavis, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Safety and Consumer
Affairs Department of Transportation
Mr. Robert F. Ellsworth Assistant Secretary of Defense International Security Affairs
Mr. James M. Frey
Deputy Associate Director for International Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Colonel Richard T. Kennedy National Security Council Staff
Mr. David R. Macdonald
Assistant Secretary of Treasury for
Enforcement, Tariff and Trade Affairs,
and Operations
Mr. Kevin T. Maroney
Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Department of Justice
Mr. Herbert K. Reis Legal Advisor
United States Mission to the United Nations Mr. Geoff C. Shepard
Associate Director of the Domestic Council Mr. W. Raymond Wannall
Assistant Director Intelligence Division Federal Bureau of Investigation
Original document.
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