Chronology of Signifigent Terrorist Events, 1995
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism. United States Department of
State Publication 10321
8 January
Algeria
Armed assailants attempted to kill two priests, one French and one
Swiss, belonging to the order of the White Fathers. The priests
escaped unharmed. The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected in
the attack.
12 January
Egypt
Suspected members of al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya (Islamic
Group or IG) opened fire on a passenger train. Six passengers,
including two Argentine tourists, were injured.
15 January
Cambodia
A US tourist was killed and her husband was seriously wounded
when Khmer Rouge rebels attacked their sightseeing convoy. A
tour guide also was killed when the assailants fired a rocket at the
van.
18 January
Colombia
Members of the People's Liberation Army kidnapped a US citizen,
working as an administrative support officer for Cerrejon Coal
Mine of Riohacha, in La Guajira.
Sierra Leone
Five Europeans and at least three Sierra Leoneans were kidnapped
by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels. All of the victims
were employed by the Swiss-owned Sierra Leone Ore and Metal
Company (Sieromco).
22 January
Algeria
Gunmen shot and killed a Frenchman as he drove through a park. A
woman also was injured in the attack. The GIA is suspected.
24 January
United Kingdom
An unidentified assailant shot and killed a Sikh newspaper editor, a
known advocate for an independent Sikh state. No one claimed
responsibility for the attack.
25 January
Sierra Leone
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) raided a mission near the
Guinea border, taking 100 hostages. Seven nuns - six Italians and
one Brazilian - were among the captives.
26 January
Colombia
Seven guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) kidnapped
three Venezuelan Corpoven engineers and killed a fourth near La
Victoria.
31 January
Colombia
Suspected guerrillas kidnapped two Brazilian engineers at an
abandoned hydroelectric dam. The engineers are employed by the
Swiss Company, ASEA.
14 February
Pakistan
Three gunmen shot and killed a former Afghan Brigadier at his
residence. The victim was affiliated with the moderate, pro-
Afghanistan Council for Understanding and National Unity
(CUNA). No group claimed responsibility, but Gulbuddin
Hikmatyar's Hizb-I-Islami organization is suspected.
24 February
Jordan
A French diplomat posted to the French Embassy was shot and
wounded by two assailants while he was sightseeing with his wife.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
27 February
Greece
Khidir Abd al-Abbas Hamza, a defecting Iraqi former nuclear
scientist, was abducted in Athens while he was attempting to call a
newspaper office from a phone booth. The Iraqi Ambassador in
Athens has denied any Iraqi involvement, but the incident is similar
to other Iraqi Government sponsored abductions.
28 February
Peru
An explosive device containing about 500 grams (one pound) of
dynamite detonated on the sidewalk across the street from the US
Embassy in Lima.
3 March
Algeria
A Palestinian student attending the Algerian Arab College was
murdered by an armed group who stormed the area where he and
his family lived. The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected.
8 March
Pakistan
Two unidentified gunmen armed with AK-47 assault rifles opened
fire on a US Consulate van in Karachi, killing two US diplomats
and wounding a third. The Pakistani driver was not hurt.
27 March
Bahrain
A Pakistani man burned to death when a video store was set on fire.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
31 March
Israel
One Israeli civilian was killed and 20 others were wounded when
suspected Hizballah members fired Katyusha rockets into western
Galilee.
5 April
Honduras
Morazanist Patriotic Front (FPM) guerrillas claimed responsibility
for a leaflet propaganda bomb that exploded in front of a
Tegucigalpa building that houses US, German, and Spanish press
agencies. The attack caused minor damage to nearby buildings.
9 April
Gaza Strip
A suicide bomber crashed an explosive-rigged van into an Israeli
bus, killing a US citizen and seven Israelis. Over 50 other persons,
including two US citizens, were injured. The Palestine Islamic
Jihad (PIJ)-Shaqaqi Faction claimed responsibility for the attack.
Georgia
Assailants attacked the T'bilisi residence of the Russian special
envoy and the headquarters of Russian troops in the Transcaucasus.
There were no injuries. A group calling itself the Algeti Wolves
claimed responsibility for the attack in revenge for events in
Chechnya and for the signing of the treaty on Russian military
bases in Georgia.
19 April
Colombia
Members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) kidnapped two
Italian oil workers from their car and killed their Colombian driver
near Barrancabermeja.
21 April
Turkey
An attempted car bombing in front of the Iranian Consulate General
in Istanbul killed a tow truck driver. The illegally parked vehicle
was towed to an open parking lot where it detonated, killing the
driver and damaging 18 other vehicles. No group has claimed
responsibility.
22 April
Netherlands
Two Turkish citizens were shot by Kurdish extremists at a
coffeehouse in The Hague. Four men were arrested in connection
with the attack.
29 April
Somalia
A foreign businessman was killed near Chisimayu by Islamic
fundamentalists.
5 May
Algeria
Suspected members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) attacked
employees of a pipeline company, killing two Frenchmen, a Briton,
a Canadian, and a Tunisian. One Algerian security guard was also
killed and at least six other guards were injured.
Israel
Hizballah launched at least eight Katyusha rockets that struck near
Qiryat Shemona. Four Israeli civilians were wounded in the attack.
7 May
Algeria
Armed assailants ambushed a two-vehicle advance for a convoy of
foreigners, including Britons and Canadians, being escorted from a
worksite to their accommodation camp. Several security forces were
killed or wounded, but there were no foreign casualties.
15 May
Peru
Five alleged Sendero Luminoso (SL) members held up a bus near
Chimbote and robbed some 50 passengers, including three US
citizens. The assailants, wearing ski masks painted with a red
hammer and sickle, threatened passengers with machineguns and
grenades.
22 May
Colombia
Approximately one kilo of dynamite detonated under a metal
security door of a Dunkin Donuts restaurant in Bogota. The
damage was estimated at $18,000. No injuries were reported and no
group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
23 May
Sierra Leone
Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels abducted three Lebanese
businessmen during attacks on towns in the Lebanese community
of the diamond district of Kono.
24 May
Peru
Presumed members of Sendero Luminoso (SL) detonated a 50-kg
car bomb in front of the Maria Angola Hotel in a suburb of Lima,
killing three hotel employees and a passerby. About 30 others were
injured.
31 May
Colombia
Seven National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas kidnapped a US
citizen and three Colombians at the Verde Limon Gold Mine in
Zaragoza. Shortly afterward, the Colombian Army freed the
captives in a confrontation that left one Colombian hostage and two
guerrillas dead.
5 June
Nicaragua
Three members of the Recontra 380 occupied the Chilean Embassy
in Managua and took hostage the husband of Ambassador Laura
Sota. The abductors left a package they claimed was a bomb and
fled without making any reported statements or demands. The
kidnap victim was released unharmed a few hours later.
7 June
Algeria
Suspected members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) shot and
killed a French couple in Algiers. No one claimed responsibility for
the attack.
24 June
Colombia
Unknown guerrillas abducted the son of a British Exxon employee
in Formeque and demanded a ransom of $500,000. On 12 August,
during the course of negotiations, the victim's body was found.
25 June
Pakistan
Five gunmen kidnapped three German engineers and a Pakistani
driver in the North-West Frontier Province. The kidnappers
demanded a ransom of ten million rupees. One of the Germans and
the Pakistani were released on 3 July, at which time the kidnappers
added the release of four prisoners in Peshawar to their demands.
The other two hostages were freed unharmed on 13 July. It does not
appear that the demands were met.
26 June
Ethiopia
Al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility for a failed
assassination attempt against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in
Addis Ababa. As his motorcade headed from the airport to a
meeting of the Organization of African Unity, two vehicles tried to
block the road, and several gunmen fired at his armored limousine.
President Mubarak was not injured. Two Ethiopian military guards
died and one was wounded in the exchange of gunfire; two gunmen
were killed and two others captured. The Palestinian Ambassador
to Ethiopia also was injured.
3 July
Germany
Attackers smashed the windows of three vehicles at a Chrysler car
dealership in Kassel. They also broke the salesroom window and
scrawled graffiti protesting the scheduled execution of Mumia Abu
Jamal, a convicted murderer, in Pennsylvania.
4-8 July
India
Six tourists - two US citizens, two Britons, a Norwegian, and a
German - were taken hostage in Kashmir by the previously
unknown militant group Al-Faran, which demanded the release of
Muslim militants held in Indian prisons. Al-Faran may be part of
the Kashmiri separatist group Harakat ul-Ansar based in Pakistan.
One of the US citizens escaped on 8 July. On 13 August, Al-Faran
murdered the Norwegian; his decapitated body was found with the
name Al-Faran carved on his stomach and a note stating that the
other hostages also would be killed if the group's demands were not
met. The Indian Government has refused to comply with their
demands.
11 July
France
Two assailants assassinated a cofounder of the Algerian Islamic
Salvation Front and his bodyguard in a Paris mosque. No one
claimed responsibility for the murders. Earlier this year Algerian
publications reportedly received a communique from the Armed
Islamic Group (GIA) listing their priority targets, including the
victim.
13 July
Turkey
Kurdish separatists abducted a Japanese tourist at a rebel
checkpoint near Siirt. No demands were made, and the kidnappers
released the hostage unharmed on 17 July. The Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) is suspected.
25 July
France
A bomb detonated aboard a Paris subway train as it arrived at St.
Michel station, killing seven commuters and wounding 86.
5 August
Greece
A small improvised bomb detonated at a Citibank branch in
Athens, causing minor damage. The Anti-Regime Nuclei (ARN)
later claimed responsibility.
10 August
Germany
Assailants firebombed a vehicle parked at a US-owned Chrysler
dealership in a small German city. No one was injured. A letter left
at the scene identified the perpetrators as members of the Anti-
Imperialistic Group Liberty for Mumia Abu Jamal.
12 August
Colombia
Members of the Jaime Bateman Cayon Front, a remnant of the 19
April Movement, kidnapped a British diplomat and a Colombian
colleague along a highway near Tolima Department. On learning of
the British official's diplomatic status, the terrorists demanded an
unspecified ransom to free him. They released the Colombian
national.
17 August
France
A nail-filled bomb detonated in a trash bin near a subway entrance
in Paris injuring 17 people. Among those injured were four
Hungarians, four Italians, three Portuguese, one German, and one
Briton. Authorities determined a similar explosive device was used
in the Paris subway bombing on 25 July.
20 August
France
Assailants threw a molotov cocktail at a building in Paris that
houses a Turkish sporting and cultural association, injuring six
persons and causing minor damage. Witnesses reported seeing three
people flee the scene. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) may be
responsible for the attack.
21 August
Israel
A bomb exploded on a bus in Jerusalem, killing six persons,
including one US citizen, and wounding two other US citizens and
over 100 others. The Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades, the military
wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), claimed
responsibility.
24 August
Pakistan
Sixteen men armed with steel pipes and at least one gun vandalized
the BBC office in Islamabad. The attackers destroyed equipment
and files, bombed the entry hall, and destroyed two cars. The BBC
chief correspondent, a Canadian, and a Pakistani BBC staff
member escaped with minor injuries. The radical Sunni
organization Sipah-I-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) claimed responsibility,
although the group's leader stated that he had ordered only a
peaceful demonstration to protest the BBC airing of a documentary
about the group.
27 August
Spain
Arsonists in San Sebastian doused a car bearing French license
plates with gasoline and ignited it. There were no injuries.
Authorities believe a support group of the Basque Fatherland and
Liberty (ETA) is responsible.
1 September
Colombia
Guerrillas intercepted and kidnapped a US businessman and his
Colombian partner in Cali. The captors, five armed masked men,
took the two men to a jungle camp. The Colombian negotiated a
$30,000 ransom for his US partner, who was released on 22
September. No group has claimed responsibility.
Colombia
In Santa Marta, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
guerrillas destroyed containers of bananas belonging to the US
company Dole.
2 September
Algeria
Suspected Armed Islamic Group (GIA) militants shot and killed an
Italian national in Oran.
3 September
Algeria
Unidentified assailants shot and killed two nuns in the Belcourt
district of Algiers. One of the victims was French and the other
Maltese. Authorities suspect the Armed Islamic Group (GIA).
5 September
West Bank
Unknown assailants stabbed to death an Israeli settler of British
origin and wounded his US-born wife in the settlement of Ma'ale
Mikmas, near Ram Allah. An anonymous caller claimed
responsibility in the name of the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine (PFLP). The caller stated the attack was in retaliation
for the arrest of three PFLP activists and the continued detention of
a PFLP politburo member, imprisoned for three years.
Germany
Arsonists attacked two Turkish-owned facilities. In Luebeck,
arsonists set fire to a bistro. Two persons died and 20 were injured.
Arsonists also firebombed a nightclub in Freital. There were no
injuries. Authorities suspect the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
7 September
India
A woman claiming to be from the militant group Dukhtaran-e-
Millat delivered a parcel bomb to the office of the BBC in
Srinagar, Kashmir. The bomb exploded later in the hands of a free
lance photographer for Agence France-Presse, who died on 10
September from his injuries. The blast wounded two others and
caused major damage. Dukhtaran-e-Millat denied responsibility for
the bombing.
13 September
Russia
Unidentified assailants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the US
Embassy in Moscow, causing minor damage to a sixth-floor office.
No injuries were reported. Authorities suspect the attack was in
retaliation for US participation in NATO airstrikes against Bosnian
Serb targets.
20 September
Austria
In Vienna, assailants attempted to firebomb a German
pharmaceutical firm, but the molotov cocktails failed to ignite. The
German firm was hosting a US delegation and had raised the US
flag outside the building.
21 September
Austria
Assailants threw lit bottles containing heating oil and paint thinner
into two rooms of the American International School in Vienna.
There were no injuries. The Austrian press later received a letter in
which the Cell for Internationalism claimed responsibility.
Authorities believe there may be a connection with the previous
day's bombing.
13 October
Colombia
A letter bomb sent to the Italian Embassy in Bogota exploded when
opened by a staff member, who was wounded. The injured
employee is responsible for Italian cooperation with Colombia
under their countries' economic drug-fighting agreements. No group
has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
20 October
Croatia
A car bomb detonated outside the local police headquarters
building in Rijeka, killing the driver and injuring 29 bystanders.
The Egyptian al- Gama'at al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility,
warning that further attacks would continue unless authorities
released an imprisoned Gama'at militant, Tala'at Fuad Kassem, who
had been arrested in September 1995.
Turkey
A pipe bomb exploded outside a Coca-Cola Company warehouse
in Istanbul, causing minor damage to the building and to a vehicle.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
27 October
Angola
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
soldiers killed two persons and kidnapped 32 others in Lunda
Norte. Four of the hostages are South African citizens employed by
the SA Export Company, Ltd.
8 November
Egypt
Islamic extremists opened fire on a train enroute to Cairo from
Aswan, injuring a Dutchman, a French woman, and an Egyptian.
Al-Gama'at al- Islamiyya (Islamic Group or IG) claimed
responsibility for the attack.
9 November
Algeria
Unidentified assailants set fire to the off-compound US Embassy
warehouse in Algiers, destroying the facility and its contents. The
Armed Islamic Group (GIA) may be responsible for the attack.
10 November
Switzerland
Unknown assailants firebombed a Turkish-owned shop in Basel,
injuring three persons and causing major damage. No one has
claimed responsibility for the attack.
13 November
Saudi Arabia
A car bomb explosion in the parking lot of the Office of the
Program Manager/Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM/SANG) in
Riyadh, killed seven persons and wounded 42 others. The deceased
include four US federal civilian employees, one US military person,
and two Indian Government employees. The blast severely damaged
the three-story building, which houses a US military advisory
group, and several neighboring office buildings. Three groups,
including the Islamic Movement for Change, claimed responsibility
for the attack.
Switzerland
An Egyptian diplomat was shot and killed in the parking garage of
his apartment building in Geneva. On 15 November the
International Justice Group claimed responsibility for the attack.
15 November
Japan
An electric company employee discovered an explosive device
burning on a powerline to a US military housing complex in
Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The explosion caused minor
damage. No group has claimed responsibility, but both the
Chukaku-Ha and the Kakurokyo-Ha had announced plans to
disrupt the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) summit in
Osaka, held during 13 to 19 November.
19 November
Pakistan
A suicide bomber drove a vehicle into the Egyptian Embassy
compound in Islamabad, killing at least 16 persons and injuring
some 60 others. The bomb destroyed the entire compound and
caused damage and injuries within a half-mile radius. The Japanese
and Indonesian Embassies, the Canadian High Commission, the
UK housing compound, and Grindlays Bank were among the
damaged buildings. Al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group or IG),
Jihad Group, and the International Justice Group all claimed
responsibility for the bombing.
21 November
India
A powerful bomb exploded outside a restaurant in the Connaught
Place shopping area in New Delhi. The blast injured 22 persons,
including two Dutch citizens, one South African and one
Norwegian, and caused major damage to shops and parked cars.
Both the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front, a Kashmiri Muslim
separatist group, and the Khalistan Liberation Tiger Force, a Sikh
separatist group, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
30 November
Algeria
Four suspected Islamic extremists shot and killed two Latvian
seamen and wounded a third. No one has claimed responsibility,
but the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected.
9 December
France
Assailants in Bayonne set fire to a stolen vehicle and firebombed a
bank after the French Government expelled a member of the
Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA).
10 December
Ecuador
Three FARC militants kidnapped the treasurer for the Nazarine
missions, who is a US citizen. A captured member of FARC led a
rescue team to a mountainous area near Quito, where they rescued
the victim. Three kidnappers were killed and two others escaped.
11 December
Austria
Two letter bombs detonated inside a mailbox located outside a
local post office in Graz, wounding a passer-by. One was addressed
to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' office. Remnants of a
claimant letter were discovered at the scene. Two other letter bombs
were discovered intact. Authorities suspect the Bavarian Liberation
Army may be responsible.
16 December
Spain
Several bombs detonated in different areas of a department store in
Valencia, killing one person and wounding eight others, including
a US citizen. Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) claimed
responsibility for the attack.
23 December
Germany
A bomb detonated outside an office building in Duesseldorf that
housed the Peruvian Honorary Consulate, causing major damage.
On 27 December the Anti-Imperialist Cell (AIZ) claimed
responsibility for the attack in a letter stating that the Peruvian
Government's domestic policies are "unbearable for the majority of
Peruvians."
27 December
Philippines
Twenty Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped at least 16 vacationers,
including six US citizens, at Lake Sebu, Mindanao. Two of the
hostages escaped and four were released, carrying a ransom demand
of $57,700. On 31 December the kidnappers released the remaining
hostages in exchange for government promises of improvements in
the south.
30 December
France
A bomb detonated outside a Paris branch of Citibank, causing
major damage. Suspicion centered on sympathizers of the Armed
Islamic Group (GIA) who may be responsible.
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