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Terrorism: Middle East Terrorist Incidents

(1968 - 1973)

Category » Terrorism
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Terrorism: Table of Contents|Counter-Terrorism|Suicide Attacks
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators ... and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 1        
23 July 1968 El Al plane hijacked Plane forced to 2 Palestinians, Freed
  on flight from land at Algiers. 1 Syrian. quickly.
  Rome to Lod. 21 Israel i and 11 Apprehended by  
    crew members Algerian  
    detained for five authorities.  
    weeks.    
INCIDENT NO. 2        
26 December 1968 Gunfire attack on 1 Israeli passenger 2 Palestinians. Freed after the
  El Al plane at killed; I stewardess Sentenced to Olympic Airways
  Athens airport. wounded. 17 and 14 years hijacking in July
      imprisonment 1970 (see Incident
      respectively. No. 17 below).
INCIDENT NO. 3        
18 February 1969 Gunfire attack on Co-pilot killed; 5 Palestinians. 1 woman freed
  El Al plane at pilot wounded. 1 killed and 4 quickly.
  Zurich airport.   arrested. 3 men freed after
      1 (a woman) freed the Zerqa affair in
      quickly; the three September 1970
      men sentenced (see Incident No.
      to 12 years 19 below).
      imprisonment with  
      hard labour.  
INCIDENT NO. 4        
22 May 1969 Attempt to Forestalled. 2 Arabs (a man Freed after three
  assassinate   and a woman) weeks on the
  David Ben-Gurion   and 1 Swede ground that
  in Copenhagen.   arrested by "intent to kill" was
      Danish authorities. not sufficient
        reason for charging
        them.
INCIDENT NO. 5        
23 August 1969 Attack on the Abortive. 2 Jordanian Unknown.
  Israeli Commercial   students injured by  
  Fair at Izmir.   the bomb employed  
      in the attack.  
      1 died from injuries;  
      1 arrested.  
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators ...and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 6        
29 August 1969 TWA plane hijacked 6 Israeli passengers 2 Palestinians. Not brought to trial
  from Los Angeles, detained, two of    
  forced to land at whom held until 5    
  Damascus, where it December 1969.    
  was sabotaged.      
INCIDENT NO. 7        
8 September 1969 Hand-grenade Damage to building. 2 Arab boys, one One boy took
  attack on El Al   of them 13 years refuge in the
  office in Brussels.   old. Both recruited Iraqi Embassy,
      by A I-Fatah. which helped him
        to escape.
INCIDENT NO. 8        
27 November 1969 Hand-grenade 1 Greek child 2 Jordanians. Freed after the
  attack on El Al killed; 13 persons Sentenced to 11 Olympic Airways
  office in Athens. wounded. and 8 years hijacking in July
      imprisonment 1970 (see Incident
      respectively. No. 17 below).
INCIDENT NO. 9        
5 December 1969 Attack planned on Forestalled. 4 terrorists Unknown.
  plane at London   arrested.  
  airport.      
INCIDENT NO. 10        
17 December 1969 Attack planned on Forestalled. 2 British nationals. I still in gaol.
  an El Al plane at   I sentenced to 10  
  London airport.   years imprisonment;  
      the other turned  
      "Queen's" evidence.  
INCIDENT NO. 11        
21 December 1969 Attempt to hijack Abortive. 3 Lebanese detained. Freed after the
  a TWA plane in     Olympic Airways
  Athens.     hijacking in July
        1970 (see Incident
        No. 17 below).
INCIDENT NO. 12        
9 January 1970 TWA plane hijacked Plane released. 1 Frenchman. Freed after a
  to Beirut from Paris.     few days.
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 13        
10 February 1970 Attack on airport I Israel i passenger 2 Jordanians; Freed after the Zerqa
  bus headed for killed; 8 others 1 Egyptian. affair in September
  El Al plane at wounded.   1970 (see Incident
  Munich airport.     No. 19 below).
INCIDENT NO. 14        
17 February 1970 Conspiracy to Abortive. 1 Jordanian and Released after less
  hijack an El Al   2 Iraqis arrested on than 2 months.
  plane at Munich   arrival by plane at  
  airport.   Munich airport.  
      Sentenced to 3  
      months imprisonment.  
INCIDENT NO. 15        
4 May 1970 Attack on Israeli Wife of Israeli 2 Palestinians. Released after
  Embassy at diplomat killed; Sentenced to 3 serving sentences.
  Asuncion (Paraguay). 1 secretary years imprisonment.  
    wounded.    
INCIDENT NO. 16        
23 June 1970 Attacks planned on Forestalled. 1 Arab arrested in Still in gaol.
  hotels in Israel.   Israel.  
      Sentenced to 12  
      years imprisonment.  
INCIDENT NO. 17        
22 July 1970 Olympic Airlines Greek authorities 6 members of None was brought
  plane hijacked to set free 7 convicted Palestine Popular to justice, but 7
  Beirut from Athens. Arab terrorists. Struggle Front. convicted Arab
        terrorists were set
        free by the Greek
        authorities (see
        Incidents 2, 8 & 11
        above).
INCIDENT NO. 18        
6 September 1970 Attempt to hijack Abortive, but 2 members of Leila Khaled freed
  El Al plane from 1 El Al steward Popular Front for after the Zerqa
  Amsterdam to wounded. Of the the Liberation of affair (see Incident
  New York. hijackers, 1 killed Palestine (PFLP). No. 19 below).
    and Leila Khaled    
    wounded.    
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 19        
6 September 1970 3 planes (Pan Am All three planes Members of PFLP. None was brought to
  TWA and Swissair) were blown up.   justice. But 7 Arab
  with a total of 400 Arab terrorists   terrorists imprisoned
  passengers, hijacked imprisoned in   in Britain, West
  on flights to New various countries   Germany and
  York from set free.   Switzerland were
  Brussels,     set free (see Incidents
  Frankfurt and     Nos. 3, 13 & 18
  Zurich respectively.     above).
  The TWA and      
  Swissair planes      
  forced to land at      
  Zerqa in Jordan;      
  the Pan Am plane      
  in Cairo.      
INCIDENT NO. 20        
9 September 1970 BOAC plane Plane blown up. Members of PF LP. None was brought
  hijacked on flight     to justice (see
  from Bombay to     Incident No. 19
  Rome, and forced     above).
  to land at Zerqa      
  in Jordan.      
INCIDENT NO. 21        
17 December 1970 Conspiracy to Forestalled. 5 terrorists. Served three months
  sabotage an El Al   Arrested on board imprisonment.
  plane.   a Yugoslav plane  
      during a stop-over  
      in Munich.  
INCIDENT NO. 22        
29 December 1970 Attacks planned on Forestalled. 2 Arabs arrested. Unknown.
  targets in West      
  Germany and      
  Switzerland.      
INCIDENT NO. 23        
3 January 1971 Suitcase full of Forestalled. 1 person arrested. F reed
  arms discovered     quickly.
  in Italy.      
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators ... and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 24        
19 April 1971 Attacks planned on Forestalled. Elderly French Elderly couple
  hotels in Israel.   couple, 2 sisters reprieved , on
      from Morocco, and grounds of health
      1 Frenchman and age. Others
      arrested on arrival serving 10, 12 and
      in Israel, All 17 year terms in gaol.
      sentenced to  
      varying lengths of  
      imprisonment.  
INCIDENT NO. 25        
23 June 1971 Attack on Jordanian   1 Arab arrested. Unknown.
  target in Paris.      
INCIDENT NO. 26        
4 October 1971 Attempt to hijack Abortive. 2 Palestinians Unknown.
  an Alia plane   (one a young  
  (Jordanian) in   woman) arrested.  
  Beirut.      
INCIDENT NO. 27        
28 November 1971 Prime Minister of Wasfi Tal murdered. 4 members of Black Freed in January
  Jordan Wasfi Tal   September, arrested 1973.
  attacked in Cairo.   in Cairo.  
INCIDENT NO. 28        
19 February 1972 Attempt to hijack Abortive. 1 Arab arrested. Unknown.
  an Alia plane      
  (Jordanian) in      
  Cairo.      
INCIDENT NO. 29        
8 May 1972 Sabena plane Plane and 4 Palestinian Two men were
  hijacked on flight passengers released terrorists (two men killed by security
  from Brussels, and by Israeli authorities. and two women). guards at Lod
  forced to land at     airport. The two
  Lod.     women are serving
        life imprisonment
        in Israel.
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 30        
28 May 1972 Lebanese woman in Forestalled. 1 Lebanese woman. Freed and expelled
  possession of arms     to Beirut.
  apprehended in      
  Rome. Plans      
  unknown.      
INCIDENT NO. 31        
30 May 1972 Three Japanese 27 persons killed, 3 Japanese 2 Japanese killed
  terrorists machine- 80 wounded. Most despatched by by security guards
  gun pilgrims and of the victims were PFLP. at Lod airport.
  other passengers Puerto Rican   1 serving life
  at Lod airport. pilgrims.   imprisonment
        in Israel.
INCIDENT NO. 32        
16 August 1972 Booby-trapped Explosion in 2 British girls, 2 Arabs freed.
  gramophone on luggage unaware that the  
  El Al plane on compartment, gramophone given  
  flight from Rome causing slight to them by 2 Arab  
  to Lod. damage. acquaintances in  
      Rome was booby-  
      trapped.  
      The 2 Arabs were  
      arrested in Italy.  
INCIDENT NO. 33        
5 September 1972 Seizure of Israeli 11 Israeli 7 Arabs, of whom 3 Arabs freed after
  athletes in Olympic athletes murdered. 4 killed at airport hijacking of
  Village near Munich.   near Munich and Lufthansa plane
      3 arrested. in October 1972
        (see Incident No.
        34 below).
INCIDENT NO. 34        
29 October 1972 Lufthansa plane on Plane released, Members of Al- None brought to
  flight from Beirut after the Arab Fatah acting under trial.
  to Ankara hijacked terrorists who had the cover-name of  
  to Zagreb. murdered 11 "National Youth  
    Israeli athletes at Group for the  
    the Munich Liberation of  
    Olympics had been Palestine".  
    set free.    
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 35        
23 October 1972 Algerian "diplomatic Forestalled. 1 Palestinian (on Freed.
  courier" arrested in   Algerian diplomatic  
  Amsterdam airport   passport).  
  for carrying arms.      
  Plans unknown.      
INCIDENT NO. 36        
24 December 1972 Palestinian arrested Forestalled. 1 Palestinian. Sentenced to 18
  at London airport;     months imprisonment.
  planned attacks on     Released after one
  Israeli Embassies in     year.
  Scandinavia.      
INCIDENT NO. 37        
9 January 1973 Conspiracy to attack Forestalled. 4 Arabs arrested in Freed.
  targets in Haifa   Cyprus.  
  where group      
  intended to arrive      
  by ship.      
INCIDENT NO. 38        
20 January 1973 Attack planned on Forestalled. 3 Arabs arrested Given suspended
  transit camp in   in Vienna. prison sentences,
  Austria for Jewish     and expelled from
  immigrants from     Austria.
  Russia.      
INCIDENT NO. 39        
30 January 1973 Attack planned as Forestalled. 3 Arabs arrested Given suspended
  in Incident No. 38   in Italy at border sentences, and
  above.   with Austria. expelled from Italy.
INCIDENT NO. 40        
1 March 1973 Saudi-Arabian The American 8 Palestinians Not yet brought to
  Embassy at Ambassador and arrested by trial.
  Khartoum (Sudan) Deputy Head of Sudanese  
  seized. Mission, and the authorities.  
    Belgian Charge    
    d'Affaires,    
    murdered.    
         
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 41        
15 March 1973 Attack planned on Forestalled. 2 Arabs arrested by 2 Arabs imprisoned
  Israeli and   French police at for 6 months and
  Jordanian Embassies   French-Italian expelled from
  in Paris.   border, leading to France. 2 others
      the arrest of I freed and expelled
      Palestinian and 1 immediately.
      English doctor in  
      Paris.  
INCIDENT NO. 42        
4 April 1973 Attempt to attack Abortive. 2 Arabs, who were Freed and sent
  passengers of E I Al   arrested at the back to Lebanon.
  plane at Rome   airport.  
  airport.      
INCIDENT NO. 43        
9 April 1973 Attempt to attack Abortive. 4 Arabs. Sentenced to 6
  Arkia plane (Israeli)     years impris-
  at Nicosia airport     onment, but set
  and attack on     free in context
  Israeli Ambassador's     of KLM hijacking
  residence in Nicosia.     in November (see
        Incident No. 56
        below).
INCIDENT NO. 44        
27 April 1973 Attack on an Italian Italian clerk 1 Palestinian. Not yet brought to
  clerk of the El Al murdered.   trial, since he is
  office in Rome.     alleged to be unfit
        to stand trial.
INCIDENT NO. 45        
27 April 1973 3 Arabs apprehended Forestalled. 3 Arabs. Unknown.
  at Beirut airport      
  carrying explosives      
  on board plane      
  bound for Nice.      
  Plans unknown.      
INCIDENT NO. 46        
20 May 1973 Letter bombs sent   2 Arabs arrested Interrogated and
  to Jewish and Israeli   by British police. expelled from
  addresses in Britain     Britain two days
  and Holland.     later.
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 47        
17 June 1973 Car parked near Forestalled. 2 Arabs arrested. Freed without trial.
  El Al office in Rome      
  exploded and 2      
  Arabs injured in it.      
INCIDENT NO. 48        
19 July 1973 Attack on El Al Abortive. I Palestinian. Freed and allowed
  office in Athens. Terrorist took two   to fly to Kuwait,
    hostages in   whence he departed
    adjoining hotel, but   immediately for
    released them after   unknown destination.
    negotiations with    
    police.    
INCIDENT NO. 49        
20 July 1973 Japanese Jumbo jet Plane blown up at 5 terrorists. One Not yet brought to
  hijacked on flight Tripoli airport of them, apparently trial.
  from Amsterdam to (Libya). the leader, an Arab  
  Tokyo.   girl, was killed by a  
      grenade that she  
      carried. Another  
      was a Japanese.  
INCIDENT NO. 50        
5 August 1973 Machine-gunning 5 dead, 2 Palestinians. Sentenced to death,
  passengers in lounge 55 wounded.   with right to appeal.
         
        subsequently
        agreed to commute
        their sentences
        after 3 Arabs
        pirated a Greek
        freighter at
        Karachi on
        2 February 1974.
INCIDENT NO. 51        
5 September 1973 Attack planned on Forestalled. 5 Palestinians 2 released on bail.
  El Al plane over   arrested in Rome. Trial opened on 14
  Rome airport with     December, but the 2
  ground-to-air rockets     released on bail did
  supplied by the     not appear.
  Soviet Union to      
  Egypt, Iraq and      
  Syria.      
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 52        
5 September 1973 Saudi-Arabian French authorities 5 Arabs arrested Handed over to
  Embassy at Paris allowed perpetrators by Kuwaiti Palestine Liberation
  attacked. to fly from France authorities. Organization on
    with 6 Saudi   11 October 1973.
    diplomats as    
    hostages. The group    
    reached Kuwait    
    aboard a Syrian    
    plane.    
INCIDENT NO. 53        
11 September 1973 1 member of Al- Forestalled. I Arab Freed after
  Fatah arrested by     interrogation.
  Australian authorities.      
  Plans unknown.      
INCIDENT NO. 54        
28 September 1973 3 Jewish immigrants Hostages released 2 Palestinians Freed and flown
  from Russia taken after Austrian arrested by to an Arab
  hostage, aboard Government Austrian country.
  train bound for promised to close authorities.  
  Vienna. transit camp at    
    Schonau for Russian    
    immigrants en    
    route to Israel.    
INCIDENT NO. 55        
26 October 1973 4 Arabs in Forestalled. 4 Arabs. Not yet brought
  possession of     to trial.
  explosives arrested      
  by West German      
  authorities.      
  Plans unknown.      
INCIDENT NO. 56        
25 November 1973 KLM Jumbo on Perpetrators 3 Arabs. Not known if
  flight to New Delhi surrendered at   arrested by Abu
  hijacked to Abu Dhabi and   Dhabi authorities.
  Abu Dhabi. Jumbo released.    
Date Act Outcome Perpetrators and their treatment
INCIDENT NO. 57        
2 December 1973 Weapons and Forestalled. 2 Palestinians, Not yet brought to
  explosives brought   1 Algerian and trial,
  into France for   1 Turk arrested  
  unknown purposes.   by French  
      authorities.  
INCIDENT NO. 58        
17 December 1973 Attack on Pan 32 passengers 5 Arabs arrested Apparently
  American and killed. The Pan- by Kuwaiti handed over to
  Lufthansa planes American plane authorities. Palestine
  at Rome airport. was badly damaged   Liberation
    and the Lufthansa   Organization after
    plane hijacked with   Kuwaitis refused to
    13 hostages aboard,   extradite them to
    of whom 1 died   Italy.
    before the plane    
    reached Kuwait.    
INCIDENT NO. 59        
20 December 1973 Various plans Forestalled. 10 Turks, Not yet brought to
  shown on maps   1 Palestinian, trial.
  seized.   I Algerian  
      arrested in villa  
      near Paris.  
INCIDENT NO. 60        
29 December 1973 2 Arabs Forestalled. 2 Arabs. Freed after
  arrested at     interrogation.
  London airport.      
  Plans unknown.      

Source: Israeli Foreign Ministry

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