ABU NIDAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

S E C R E T STATE 371963


TERREP EXCLUSIVE

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PTER
SUBJECT: ABU NIDAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION


1. SECRET -ENTIRE TEXT


2. FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE ABU NIDAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
PREPARED BY THE US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY:

ABU NIDAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

BACKGROUND:

THE ABU NIDAL GROUP IS AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS AND
RUTHLESS OF THE MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.
IT IS PROBABLY THE BEST ORGANIZED AND MOST EFFECTIVE OF
THE RADICAL PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUPS, CAREFULLY
PLANNING ITS OPERATIONS AND KEEPING ITS INFORMATION
TIGHTLY COMPARTMENTED. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE
ORGANIZATION HAS CONCENTRATED ON JORDANIAN AND PRO-ARAFAT
PLO TARGETS, BUT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT IS AGAIN
BROADENING ITS OPERATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS A NUMBER OF COVER NAMES INCLUDING
BLACK JUNE, NO LONGER USED, AND THE FATAH REVOLUTIONARY
COUNCIL. MORE RECENTLY, IT HAS BEGUN USING THE NAME ARAB
REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES WHEN STAGING ATTACKS AGAINST GULF
TARGETS AND EGYPT. IT ALSO CALLS ITSELF BLACK SEPTEMBER
IN ATTACKS AGAINST JORDANIAN AND PALESTINIAN TARGETS, AND
THE REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION OF SOCIALIST MUSLIMS
(ROSM) IN ATTACKS AGAINST BRITISH TARGETS.

THE ABU NIDAL GROUP WAS FORMED IN 1974 FROM ELEMENTS
WHICH BROKE AWAY FROM ARAFAT'S FATAH ORGANIZATION AFTER
HE ANNOUNCED A BAN ON PLO INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM OUTSIDE ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.
THE GROUP IS HEADED BY SABRI AL-BANNA WHO GOES BY THE
NAME OF ABU NIDAL. UNLIKE MANY TERRORIST GROUPS,
HOWEVER, IT IS SO WELL ORGANIZED, THAT IT CAN FUNCTION
WITH OR WITHOUT ITS LEADER. INDEED, BEFORE A NOVEMBER
19, L985 INTERVIEW FROM LIBYA, ABU NIDAL WAS WIDELY
RUMORED TO BE DEAD. THE ABU NIDAL GROUP ALSO APPEARS TO
BE LESS DEPENDENT ON OUTSIDE FINANCING THAN OTHER GROUPS,
IN PART BECAUSE OF ITS ABILITY TO GENERATE INCOME ON ITS
OWN.

THE GROUP IS COMMITTED TO THE USE OF VIOLENCE TO DESTROY
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RECONCILE ISRAEL AND THE ARAB
STATES. IT ALSO CALLS FOR THE OVERTHROW OF ALL
CONSERVATIVE AND MODERATE ARAB REGIMES AS WELL AS FOR THE
DESTRUCTION OF MODERATE ELEMENTS IN THE PLO, NOTABLY
ARAFAT'S FATAH ORGANIZATION. IT CONTENDS THAT BOTH
INTER-ARAB AND INTRA-PALESTINIAN TERRORISM ARE NEEDED TO
CREATE AN ALL EMBRACING ARAB REVOLUTION WHICH WILL IN
TURN LIBERATE PALESTINE. TO FURTHER ITS REVOLUTIONARY
AIMS, IT WILL ALSO STRIKE AT EUROPEAN AND OTHER TARGETS
IF IT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS ANY TACTICAL ADVANTAGE IN
DOING SO.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORGANIZATION PROBABLY NUMBERS SEVERAL
HUNDRED. IT HAS CELLS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH
ASIA AND EUROPE. OPERATIONAL GROUPS ARE SMALL, NUMBERING
ONE TO THREE, EACH WITH GOOD OPERATIONAL SECURITY AND
GOOD COMPARTMENTALIZATION. OPERATIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY
CAREFULLY COLLECTED, ON-TARGET INTELLIGENCE. THE ABU
NIDAL ORGANIZATION ALSO MAKES USE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF
PALESTINIAN STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD, SOMETIMES INVOLVING
THEM IN OPERATIONS AFTER ONLY PERFUNCTORY TRAINING.

LINKAGES TO OTHER GROUPS AND STATES:

THE ABU NIDAL GROUP IS IN MANY WAYS A ROGUE
ORGANIZATION. WHILE MAINTAINING ITS RADICAL PALESTINIAN
OUTLOOK, IT HAS LINKED UP WITH VARIOUS ARAB PATRONS,
PRESUMABLY FOR FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS MUCH
AS, IF NOT MORE THAN, FOR IDEOLOGICAL AFFINITY.

WHEN FIRST ORGANIZED, THE GROUP CAME UNDER THE PATRONAGE
OF IRAQ. WHEN SADDAM HUSAYN FINALLY EXPELLED ABU NIDAL
AND THE REMNANTS OF HIS GROUP IN MID-1983, HE MOVED TO
SYRIA. SINCE THEN, THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTING
OPERATIONS AGAINST JORDAN, MODERATE PALESTINIANS AND
ARAFAT'S MAINLINE PLO, PRESUMABLY WITH THE SUPPORT AND
COOPERATION OF SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE.

IN RECENT MONTHS, ABU NIDAL HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF BECOMING
MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH QADHAFI. THOUGH THE GROUP STILL
MAINTAINS A HEADQUARTERS IN DAMASCUS (AND POSSIBLY ONE IN
THE BIQA''VALLEY),ABU NIDAL HIMSELF IS APPARENTLY
CURRENTLY RESIDING IN LIBYA. HE HAS GRANTED SEVERAL
INTERVIEWS FROM LIBYA AND HAS SPOKEN HIGHLY OF QADHAFI IN
THEM.

LINKAGE BETWEEN THE ABU NIDAL GROUP AND OTHER TERRORIST
GROUPS IS MORE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN. THE GROUP IS VERY
TIGHTLY ORGANIZED AND CONTROLLED AND, FOR SECURITY
REASONS, DOES NOT APPEAR TO COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH OTHER
TERRORIST GROUPS. THIS DOES NOT RULE OUT NON-OPERATIONAL
COOPERATION WHEN THE GROUP BELIEVES THERE IS SUFFICIENT
TACTICAL ADVANTAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS ADMITTED IN AN
INTERVIEW TO GROWING COOPERATION WITH EUROPEAN
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE IRA.

CURRENT OPERATIONS:

THE ABU NIDAL GROUP HAS REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED ITS
ABILITY TO OPERATE IN ANY COUNTRY IT CHOOSES AND HAS
SHOWN NO SIGNS OF ESCHEWING OPERATIONS IN COUNTRIES
SYMPATHETIC TO THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE, PARTICULARLY IN ITS
ANTI-ARAFAT OPERATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS STAGED
ATTACKS IN 18 COUNTRIES ON THREE CONTINENTS, AND HAS
CONDUCTED OVER 60 TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS, 30 SINCE 1984 AND 11 SINCE JULY OF THIS YEAR.

IN RECENT INTERVIEWS, NOTABLY ONE IN DER SPIEGEL, LAST
MONTH, ABU NIDAL HIMSELF HAS MADE THREATS AGAINST MANY
COUNTRIES AND WORLD LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT MUBARAK,
PRIME MINISTER THATCHER AND PRESIDENT REAGAN. HIS
TIRADES AGAINST JEWS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY VIRULENT.
ESPECIALLY SINCE 1984, ABU NIDAL HAS CONCENTRATED ON
JORDANIANS AND PRO-ARAFAT PLO OFFICIALS. THESE ATTACKS
WERE PROVOKED IN LARGE MEASURE BY THE JORDANIAN AGREEMENT
TO HOST THE PNC MEETING IN NOVEMBER 1984 AND BY KING
HUSSEIN'S FEBRUARY ACCORD WITH ARAFAT TO RESTART THE
ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS. THE ATTACKS ON JORDANIANS IN
1985 HAVE INCLUDED:

-- NOVEMBER 24 ASSASSINATION OF A PALESTINIAN IN AMMAN BY
THREE ABU NIDAL AGENTS.

- THE MURDER OF A JORDANIAN PUBLISHER IN ATHENS IN
SEPTEMBER.

-- A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO
GREECE BY A PALESTINIAN ARRESTED BY GREEK POLICE IN
AUGUST.

-- AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON A JORDANIAN DIPLOMAT ON
AUGUST 5, BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INITIATED BY ABU NIDAL.

- THE MURDER OF A JORDANIAN DIPLOMAT IN TURKEY ON
JULY 24.

-- ON JULY 1, A BOMB EXPLODED AT THE BRITISH AIR TICKET
OFFICE IN MADRID ALSO DAMAGING THE TWA OFFICE UPSTAIRS.
NEARBY, THE JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE WAS HIT BY AUTOMATIC
WEAPONS FIRE AND TWO GRENADES WHICH DID NOT EXPLODE. IN
ALL, ONE WAS KILLED AND 24 WERE WOUNDED.

-- AMAN CLAIMING TO BE WITH BLACK SEPTEMBER FIRED A
ROCKET AT THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN ROME IN
APRIL.

-- AN ABU NIDAL ROCKET ATTACK ON A JORDANIAN AIRLINER
TAKING OFF FROM ATHENS IN APRIL. THE ROCKET HIT THE
PLANE BUT DID NOT EXPLODE.

-- IN DECEMBER, THE JORDANIAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION IN
BUCHAREST WAS KILLED GETTING INTO HIS CAR.

THE GROUP HAS ALSO TARGETED BRITISH INTERESTS. ROSM
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MARCH 1985 KIDNAPPING OF A
BRITISH JOURNALIST IN LEBANON AND THE ASSASSINATION OF
BRITISH DIPLOMATS IN INDIA AND GREECE IN 1984. THE
PURPOSE OF THESE ATTACKS IS PROBABLY TO FORCE THE UK TO
RELEASE ABU NIDAL MEMBERS IMPRISONED FOR THE ATTEMPTED
ASSASSINATION OF THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR IN LONDON IN JUNE

1982.

BASED ON THE STYLE OF ABU NIDAL ATTACKS, IT IS EVIDENT

THAT THE GROUP IS WILLING TO CAUSE INDISCRIMINATE
CASUALTIES. APART FROM THE ASSASSINATION OF PARTICULAR
INDIVIDUALS, ABU NIDAL OPERATIONS IN 1985 RESULTED IN
NINE DEATHS AND 201 WOUNDED AMONG INNOCENT BYSTANDERS NOT
COUNTING THE VICTIMS IN THE EGYPT AIR TRAGEDY. HAD THE
JORDANIAN AIRLINER HIT BY AN ABU NIDAL ROCKET TAKING OFF
FROM ATHENS AIRPORT CRASHED, THE NUMBER COULD HAVE BEEN
MUCH HIGHER. IN 1983, 111 DIED IN THE CRASH OF A GULF
AIRLINES JET ON WHICH AN ABU NIDAL BOMB EXPLODED. TWO
THIRDS OF THE GROUP'S 19 ATTACKS THIS YEAR HAVE TAKEN
PLACE IN WESTERN EUROPE. EUROPEAN CITIZENS HAVE
INCREASINGLY BECOME CASUALTIES AND INTERESTS OF EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES ARE INCREASINGLY DAMAGED BY THESE ACTIONS.

THE GROUP'S ABILITY TO MOVE AT WILL IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
THEIR ACTIVITIES HARDER TO TRACE. TO FACILITATE TRAVEL,
THE ORGANIZATION HAS A RECORD OF USING MOROCCAN AND OTHER
NORTH AFRICAN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THOSE PRODUCED
BY ITS OWN FORGING OPERATION. SOME COUNTRIES SUCH AS
YUGOSLAVIA HAVE BEEN MORE PERMISSIVE THAN OTHERS IN
ALLOWING ABU NIDAL MEMBERS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT,
APPARENTLY HOPING THAT THIS WILL BUY THEM A MODICUM OF
IMMUNITY FROM TERRORIST ACTS. THERE IS GROWING
RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A DUBIOUS ASSUMPTION.
NEVERTHELESS, TAKING LEGAL ACTION IS SOMETIMES
DIFFICULT. IN OCTOBER, AN ALLEGED HIGH RANKING ABU NIDAL
FIGURE USING SPAIN AS A BASE WAS ACQUITTED BY A SPANISH
COURT OF BEING A MEMBER OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

AMONG THE ATTACKS INVOLVING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS ARE:

-- THE NOVEMBER 23 EGYPT AIR HIJACKING TO MALTA WHICH
TOOK 60 LIVES. THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES, A COVER
NAME FOR ABU NIDAL, CLAIMED CREDIT FOR THE HIJACKING, AND
THERE IS CORROBORATING EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS AN ABU NIDAL
OPERATION. THE ACT ALSO BORE THE SIGNATURE OF THE ABU
NIDAL GROUP.

-- THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER A 12-MAN
TEAM OF ABU NIDAL TERRORISTS INTENDING TO ATTACK THE
ISRAELI CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL.

-- ON SEPTEMBER 30, A BOMB EXPLODED NEAR THE EL AL OFFICE
IN AMSTERDAM, CLAIMED BY ABU NIDAL (FATAH REVOLUTIONARY
COUNCIL).

-- ABU NIDAL BOMBED THE BRITISH AIR OFFICE IN ROME IN
SEPTEMBER INJURING 15 PERSONS, MANY OF THEM PASSERSBY.

-- BRITAIN ARRESTED TWO ABU NIDAL OPERATIVES IN SEPTEMBER
WHO INTENDED TO ATTACK AN UNIDENTIFIED TARGET.
-- ABU NIDAL MEMBERS THREW GRENADES AT ROME'S CAFE DE
PARIS IN SEPTEMBER, INJURING 38 TOURISTS, AMONG THEM
GERMANS, BRITONS, ITALIANS, ARGENTINIANS, BRAZILIANS AND
AMERICANS.

-- A JULY INCIDENT IN COPENHAGEN INVOLVING A SYNAGOGUE
AND THE NORTHWEST ORIENT AIRLINES OFFICE, AND ONE IN
AMSTERDAM ON SEPTEMBER 30 INVOLVING THE EL AL OFFICE HAVE
NOT BEEN DIRECTLY TIED TO ANY GROUP, BUT THERE IS
SUSPICION THAT ABU NIDAL WAS INVOLVED.

-- THE GROUP BOMBED TWO HOTELS IN ATHENS, ONE IN
SEPTEMBER WHICH INJURED 19 PERSONS, MOSTLY BRITISH, AND
ONE IN AUGUST, WHICH INJURED 13 BRITISH.

-- THE BOMBING OF TWO RESTAURANTS IN KUWAIT IN JULY, MOST
PROBABLY BY ABU NIDAL, KILLED EIGHT PERSONS AND INJURING
89 OTHERS.

-- THE ATTACKS ON THE AIRLINE OFFICES IN MADRID KILLING
ONE AND WOUNDING 24.

-- THE ROCKET AGAINST A JORDANIAN AIRILNER IN APRIL.

FUTURE TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS:

THE ABU NIDAL ORGANIZATION WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO
CONCENTRATE ON JORDANIAN AND PRO-ARAFAT PLO TARGETS.
EVEN IF THE SYRIANS FOR TACTICAL REASONS SHOULD CURTAIL
THEIR SUPPORT OF THE ABU NIDAL GROUP'S OPERATIONS AGAINST
JORDAN AND PRO-ARAFAT PLO, THE ACTIVITIES ARE LIKELY TO
CONTINUE. ABU NIDAL HIMSELF, UNDER DEATH SENTENCE BY THE
PLO SINCE 1974 FOR PLOTTING AGAINST THE LIFE OF ARAFAT,
AND THOSE UNDER HIM ARE CARRYING ON WHAT AMOUNTS TO A
PERSONAL VENDETTA. THE ADDITION OF LIBYAN SUPPORT
PRESENTS AN EVEN BROADER THREAT, PARTICULARLY FOR WESTERN
STATES. QADHAFI'S PARANOIA AGAINST THE WEST AND ABU
NIDAL'S EFFICIENCY COMPRISE A DEADLY COMBINATION.
INCREASINGLY, HIGH CASUALTY ATTACKS AGAINST WESTERN
TARGETS ARE LIKELY.

IN THE LONGER RUN, THE ABU NIDAL GROUP, DUE TO ITS
EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION, ACCESS TO FUNDS AND SUPPORT, MOST
RECENTLY FROM LIBYA, AND DEDICATION TO TERRORISM,
CONSTITUTES ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERNATIONAL
TERRORIST GROUPS. ITS WIDE-SPREAD NETWORK AND RUTHLESS
DISREGARD FOR THE INTERESTS AND IDEOLOGICAL POSITIONS OF
THE COUNTRIES, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IT STRIKES, MAKES
IT A FORMIDABLE FOE. ONLY THROUGH A COORDINATED EFFORT
OF ALL THOSE COUNTRIES FOR WHICH IT POSES A POTENTIAL
THREAT CAN THE ABU NIDAL ORGANIZATION BE STOPPED.

ANNEX:

SIGNIFICANT ABU NIDAL INCIDENTS, 1978-1985

1985

23-27 NOVEMBER
MALTA: EGYPT AIR FLIGHT 648 WAS HIJACKED
FROM ATHENS TO MALTA RESULTING IN THE
LOSS OF 59 LIVES.

14 NOVEMBER

AMMAN: ASSASSINATION OF A PALESTINIAN,
HUSSEIN AL-BITAR. THE JORDANIAN POLICE CAPTURED THREE
ABU NIDEL ASSASSINS.

25 SEPTEMBER

ITALY: BOMB EXPLODED AT BRITISH AIR OFFICE IN ROME,
INJURING 15 CLAIMED BY REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION OF
SOCIALIST MOSLEMS (ROSM).

18 SEPTEMBER

GREECE: PALESTINIAN MAGAZINE PUBLISHER,MICHAEL
AL-NUMARI, ASSASSINATED IN ATHENS. CLAIMED BY BLACK
SEPTEMBER.

16 SEPTEMBER

ITLAY: GRENADES THROWN AT THE CAFE DE PARIS IN ROME,
INJURING 38 TOURISTS INCLUDING 11 AMERICANS. CLAIMED BY
ROSM.
.
3 SEPTEMBER

GREECE: GRENADES THROWN AT GLYFADA HOTEL IN ATHENS,
WOUNDING 19 ATTACK CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER AND ROSM.

30 AUGUST

GREECE: PALESTINIAN ARRESTED IN ATHENS PLOTTING THE
ASSASSINATION OF THE JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR. CLAIMED TO
REMEMBER OF BLACK SEPTEMBER.

8 AUGUST

GREECE: BOMB EXPLODED AT LONDON HOTEL IN ATHENS,
WOUNDING 13 BRITISH TOURISTS. CLAIMED BY ROSM.

24 JULY

TURKEY: FIRST SECRETARY AT THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN
ANKARA ASSASSINATED BY A LONE GUNMAN. INCIDENT CLAIMED
BY BLACK SEPTEMBER, ISLAMIC JIHAD, AND HIZBALLAH.

21 JULY

LEBANON: BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE THE KUWAITI AIRLINES
OFFICE IN BEIRUT. CLAIMED BY ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

11 JULY

KUWAIT: TWO POWERFUL BOMBS EXPLODED WITHIN MINUTES OF
EACH OTHER KILLING 8 PEOPLE AND INJURING 89 AT TWO
CROWDED CAFES ABOUT L0 KILOMETERS APART. A THIRD
BOMB WAS DEFUSED AT ANOTHER CAFE. ARAB
REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

1 JULY

SPAIN: BOMB EXPLODED AT THE BRITISH AIR TICKET OFFICE IN
MADRID, ALSO DAMAGING THE TWA OFFICE UPSTAIRS. THE ALIA
TICKET OFFICE NEARBY HIT BY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE AND
TWO GRENADES THAT FAILED TO EXPLODE. ONE KILLED, 24
WOUNDED. CLAIMED BY ORGANIZATION OF THE OPPRESSED, ROSM,
AND BLACK SEPTEMBER.

15 MAY

LEBANON: UNRWA OFFICIAL WALSH KIDNAPPED,BUT RELEASED THE
NEXT DAY. CLAIMED BY ROSM.

23 APRIL

KUWAIT: AHMAD JARALLAH, A MODERATE NEWSPAPER EDITOR WAS
WOUNDED IN AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION AS HE WAS LEAVING
HIS OFFICE. ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY.

4 APRIL

GREECE: A ROCKET WAS FIRED AT A JORDANIAN AIRLINER AS IT
WAS TAKING OFF FROM ATHENS AIRPORT. THE PROJECTILE HIT
THE PLANE BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. CLAIMED BY BLACK
SEPTEMBER.

3 APRIL

ITALY: A LIGHT ANTI-TANK ROCKET WAS FIRED AT THE
JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN ROME. THE ROCKET MISSED THE EMBASSY
AND HIT AN APARTMENT ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF THE BUILDING,
BUT CAUSED NO CASUALTIES. CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER.

26 MARCH

LEBANON: ALEC COLLETT, A BRITISH JOURNALIST WORKING FOR
UNRWA WAS ABDUCTED FROM HIS AUTOMOBILE IN BEIRUT.
CLAIMED BY ROSM.

21 MARCH

GREECE: AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN THREW A HAND GRENADE INTO A
ROYAL JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE IN ATHENS, INJURING THREE
PEOPLE. CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER.

21 MARCH

CYPRUS: AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN THREW TWO HAND GRENADES INTO
A ROYAL JORDANIAN AIRLINE OFFICE IN NICOSIA. CLAIMED BY
BLACK SEPTEMBER.

21 MARCH

ITALY: ATTACK ON ROYAL JORDAN AIRLINE OFFICE. TWO
WOUNDED. CLAIMED BY BLACK SEPTEMBER.

1984

29 DECEMBER

JORDAN: TWO UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN ASSASSINATED FAHD
ALQAWASMAH, MEMBER OF THE PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND
FORMER MAYOR OF HEBRON, OUTSIDE HIS HOME IN AMMAN. TWO
WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING WERE INJURED BY GUNFIRE AS THEY
TRIED TO BLOCK THE ASSASSIN'S FLEEING VEHICLE. CLAIMED
BY BLACK SEPTEMBER.

14 DECEMBER

ITALY: ISMAIL DARWISH, A LEADING MILITARY FIGURE IN THE

FATAH MOVEMENT, WAS GUNNED DOWN ON A ROME STREET BY AN
UNIDENTIFIED MAN WHO FLED ON A WAITING MOTOR SCOOTER.
CLAIMED BY ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

4 DECEMBER

ROMANIA: THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION OF THE JORDANIAN
EMBASSY, AZMI AL-MUFTI, WAS SHOT AND KILLED AS HE WAS
GETTING INTO HIS CAR IN BUCHAREST. CLAIMED BY BLACK
SEPTEMBER.

29 NOVEMBER

GREECE: AN UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN TRIED TO ASSASSINATE THE
DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE JORDANIAN MISSION IN ATHENS, BUT HIS
GUN JAMMED. NO GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY BUT ABU
NIDAL WAS SUSPECTED.

27 NOVEMBER

INDIA: THE BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER, MR.PERCY
NORRIS, WAS SHOT AND KILLED AS HE WAS BEING DRIVEN FROM
HIS RESIDENCE TO HIS OFFICE. ROSM CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

12 NOVEMBER

AUSTRIA: AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE PARTIALLY EXPLODED AT THE
IRAELI EL AL AIRLINES OFFICE. NO CASUALTIES WERE CAUSED,
BUT PASSERSBY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED HAD THE
DEVICE DETONATED COMPLETELY. NO GROUP CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY BUT ABU NIDAL WAS SUSPECTED.

12 NOVEMBER

AUSTRIA: A SMALL EXPLOSIVE DEVICE EXPLODED IN THE
ENTRANCE HALLWAY OF THE BRITISH CONSULATE. NO GROUP
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY BUT ABU NIDAL WAS SUSPECTED.

25 OCTOBER

ITALY: VICE-CONSUL OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WAS
WOUNDED AND AN IRANIAN STUDENT ACCOMPANYING HIM KILLED
WHEN SHOTS WERE FIRED INTO THEIR CAR IN ROME. CLAIMED BY
THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

28 MARCH

GREECE: BRITISH EMBASSY FIRST SECRETARY, MR.. KENNETH
WHITTY WAS ASSASSINATED IN ATHENS BY A LONE GUNMAN WHO
FIRED SHOTS INTO HIS AUTOMOBILE. ROSM CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY.

24 MARCH

JORDAN: BOMB DEFUSED OUTSIDE THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN
AMMAN. CLAIMED BY ABU NIDAL GROUP.

24 MARCH

JORDAN: BOMB DEFUSED OUTSIDE THE BRITISH CULTURAL CENTER
IN AMMAN. CLAIMED BY ABU NIDAL GROUP.

24 MARCH

JORDAN: BOMB EXPLODED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM
THE US EMBASSY, DAMAGING TWO VEHICLES AND SLIGHTLY
INJURING A USAID EMPLOYEE AND HIS DAUGHTER. A SECOND
BOMB WAS DISCOVERED IN THE PARKING LOT AND DEFUSED.
CLAIMED BY ABU NIDAL GROUP.

8 FEBRUARY

FRANCE: UAE AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE, KHALIFAH AL-MUBARAK,
ASSASSINATED BY A LONE GUNMAN. CLAIMED BY ARAB
REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES AND ISLAMIC JIHAD.

1983

29 DECEMBER

SPAIN: TWO JORDANIAN EMBASSY EMPLOYEES WERE ATTACKED BY
A LONE GUNMAN AS THEY WERE DEPARTING FROM THEIR EMBASSY.
WALID JAMAL BALKIS WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND IBRAHIM SAMI
MUHAMMAD WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. CLAIMED BY THE ARAB
REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

20 DECEMBER

TURKEY: A CAR BOMB INJURED ONE PERSON AND CAUSED
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO AN APARTMENT BUILDING NEAR THE PLO
OFFICE AND LIVING QUARTERS IN ANKARA. ABU NIDAL GROUP
SUSPECTED.

19 DECEMBER

TURKEY: A CAR BOMB WAS DISCOVERED IN AN ABANDONED RENTAL
CAR MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FRENCH CULTURAL HOUSE AND THE
CORDON HOTEL USED BY AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL IN
IZMIR. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

7 NOVEMBER

GREECE: TWO SECURITY GUARDS OF THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY
WERE WOUNDED ON A CROWDED STREET IN ATHENS. ONE OF THE
VICTIMS SUBSEQUENTLY DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS. ARAB
REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

31 OCTOBER

JORDAN: A CAR BOMB CONTAINING1 00015 POUNDS OF
EXPLOSIVES DETONATED OUTSIDE THE MAIN JORDANIAN ARMY
OFFICERS' CLUB IN ZARQA. NO CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED.
ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

26 OCTOBER

ITALY: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN AND HIS
DRIVER WERE WOUNDED IN AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN ROME.
CLAIMED BY ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES.

25 OCTOBER

INDIA: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR WOUNDED BY AN UNKNOWN
ASSAILANT IN NEW DELHI. CLAIMED BY ARAB REVOLUTIONARY
BRIGADES.

23 SEPTEMBER

UAE: A GULF AIR BOEING 737 EN ROUTE FROM KARACHI,
PAKISTAN TO ABU DHABI, CRASHED KILLING ALL111 PASSENGERS
AND CREW. THE CRASH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A BOMB
PLACED ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE ARAB REVOLUTIONARY
BRIGADES AND ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

10 APRIL

PORTUGAL: THE PLO OBSERVER TO AN INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF SOCIALISTS, ISAM AL-SARTAWI, WAS SHOT TO
DEATH IN A HOTEL LOBBY. SARTAWI'S SECRETARY WAS SLIGHTLY
WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK. CLAIMED BY ABU NIDAL.

1982

8 DECEMBER

GREECE: THE KUWAIT AIRWAYS CORPORATION OFFICES WERE

BOMBED IN ATHENS, CAUSING NO CASUALTIES. ABU NIDAL
SUSPECTED.

9 OCTOBER

ITALY: A GRENADE AND MACHINE GUN ATTACK AGAINST A
SYNAGOGUE IN ROME KILLED ONE CHILD AND WOUNDED10 OTHER
PERSONS.

16 SEPTEMBER

SPAIN: A LONE GUNMAN ASSASSINATED A FIRST SECRETARY FROM
THE KUWAIT EMBASSY AND WOUNDED HIS DRIVER IN MADRID. ABU
NIDAL SUSPECTED.

16 SEPTEMBER

PAKISTAN: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE KUWAITI CONSUL
GENERAL IN KARACHI. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

23 AUGUST

KUWAIT: UAE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, MUHAMMAD AL-JUWAI'ED, WAS
WOUNDED IN AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT BY A LONE GUNMAN.
ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

23 AUGUST

INDIA: THE UAE CONSUL GENERAL IN BOMBAY ESCAPED INJURY
DURING AN APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. ABU NIDAL
GROUP SUSPECTED.

9 AUGUST

FRANCE: TWO GUNMEN WITH GRENADES AND AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
ATTACKED THE JEWISH-OWNED RESTAURANT CHEZ GOLDENBERG IN
PARIS, KILLING SIX AND INJURING 22. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

JULY

FRANCE: THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PLO OFFICE IN PARIS
WAS ASSASSINATED. ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

5 JUNE

INDIA: THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE KUWAITI EMBASSY IN NEW
DELHI WAS ASSASSINATED. ARAB REVOLUTIONARY BRIGADES
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

JUNE

ITALY: THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PLO OFFICE IN ROME WAS
KILLED WHEN A BOMB WAS EXPLODED UNDER HIS CAR. ABU NIDAL
SUSPECTED.

JUNE

ITALY: PLO ACTIVIST NAZEYK MATAR WAS SHOT BY A GROUP OF
THREE OR FOUR MEN IN ROME. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

3 JUNE

UK: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SHLOMO
ARGOV AS HE DEPARTED THE DORCHESTER HOTEL IN LONDON. A
LONE GUNMAN FIRED A POLISH-MADE SUBMACHINE GUN AT
POINT-BLANK RANGE, CRITICALLY WOUNDING THE AMBASSADOR.
ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

4 FEBRUARY

AUSTRIA: A BOMB EXPLODED AT THE RESIDENCE OF CHIEF RABBI
DR. AKIBA EISENBERG IN VIENNA, CAUSING SOME PROPERTY
DAMAGE BUT NO CASUALTIES. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

1981

9 OCTOBER

ITALY: SENIOR PLO OFFICIAL MAJID ABU SHARARA
ASSASSINATED IN ROME. SHARARA WAS KILLED BY A BOMB
PLACED UNDER THE BED OF HIS ROME HOTEL ROOM. ABU NIDAL
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

23 SEPTEMBER

CYPRUS: TWO ARABS ENTERED AN ISRAELI SHIPPING FIRM IN
LIMASSOL AND THREW A HAND GRENADE, INJURING FIVE
EMPLOYEES. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

29 AUGUST

AUSTRIA: TWO GUNMEN ARMED WITH POLISH MACHINE PISTOLS
AND HAND GRENADES ATTACKED A VIENNA SYNAGOGUE AS
WORSHIPPERS WERE LEAVING A SERVICE. TWO PEOPLE WERE
KILLED AND 20 WERE INJURED. ABU NIDAL CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY.

1 JUNE

BELGIUM: PLO REPRESENTATIVE, NA'IM KADIR, ASSASSINATED
IN BRUSSELS. ABU NIDAL GROUP SUSPECTED.

1 MAY

AUSTRIA: ASSASSINATION OF HEINZ NITTEL, HEAD OF THE
AUSTRIAN-ISRAELI FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY IN VIENNA. ABU NIDAL
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

1980

JULY

BELGIUM: ISRAELI COMMERCIAL ATTACHE ASSASSINATED IN
BRUSSELS. ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

22 APRIL

YUGOSLAVIA: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FATAH OFFICIAL
SALAH KHALAF (ABU IYAD) IN BELGRADE, BUT ONLY ONE OF HIS
BODYGUARDS WAS WOUNDED. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

3 MARCH

SPAIN: A GUNMAN INTENDED TO ASSASSINATE A PROMINENT
SPANISH JEWISH LAWYER, BUT SHOT AND KILLED ANOTHER LAWYER
BY MISTAKE. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

17 JANUARY

FRANCE: THE MANAGER OF AN ARAB BOOKSTORE WAS
ASSASSINATED IN PARIS. ABU NIDAL CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

1978

5 AUGUST

PAKISTAN: FOUR GUNMEN ARMED WITH SUBMACHINE GUNS AND
GRENADES, BROKE INTO THE PLO OFFICE IN ISLAMABAD AND
MURDERED A RADIO OPERATOR, TWO PALESTINIAN STUDENTS, AND
A PAKISTANI POLICE GUARD. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

3 AUGUST

FRANCE: TWO GUNMEN INVADED THE OFFICE OF PLO
REPRESENTATIVE IZZ AL-DIN AL-QALAQ AND SHOT HIM TO DEATH
IN PARIS. AS THEY DEPARTED, THEY THREW A GRENADE WHICH
KILLED AL-QALAQ'S DEPUTY AND INJURED OTHERS NEARBY.

BLACK JUNE AND SEPTEMBER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

15 JUNE

KUWAIT: PLO OFFICIAL 'ALI NASIR YASIM WAS FOUND SHOT TO
DEATH IN FRONT OF HIS HOME. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.

FEBRUARY

CYPRUS: TWO GUNMEN INVADED THE HOTEL IN NICOSIA WHERE
THE PRESIDIUM OF THE AFRO-ASIAN PEOPLES' SOLIDARITY
ORGANIZATION WAS MEETING AND KILLED ITS SECRETARY
GENERAL, YUSUF AL-SIBA'I, THE EDITOR OF THE CAIRO
NEWSPAPER "AL-AHRAM" AND A CONFIDANT OF ANWAR SADAT.
HAVING TAKEN 30 HOSTAGES, THE TERRORISTS EXCHANGED SOME
OF THEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT WITH A VOLUNTEER CREW AND SAFE
CONDUCT OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THEY TOOK OFF WITH 11
HOSTAGES BUT WERE REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND BY LIBYA,
KUWAIT, SOMALIA, ETHIOPIA, AND SOUTH YEMEN; DJIBOUTI
ALLOWED A REFUELING STOP. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY RETURNED TO
LARNACA AIRPORT AND RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CYPRIOT
GOVERNMENT. JUST AS THE TERRORISTS WERE AGREEING TO
RELEASE THEIR HOSTAGES AND SURRENDER IN EXCHANGE FOR
PASSPORTS AND A NEW SAFE CONDUCT, AN EGYPTIAN
COUNTER-TERRORISM FORCE CONDUCTED AN UNAUTHORIZED AND
UNEXPECTED AIRBORNE ASSAULT ON LARNACA AIRPORT. FIFTEEN
EGYPTIANS WERE KILLED AND16 WOUNDED AND THEIR AIRCRAFT
WAS DESTROYED. SEVEN CYPRIOTS WERE WOUNDED. THE TWO
TERRORISTS SURRENDERED.

4 JANUARY

UK: PLO REPRESENTATIVE SA'ID HAMMAMI WHO WAS KNOWN TO
FAVOR PALESTINIAN COEXISTENCE WITH ISRAEL, WAS SHOT DEAD
IN HIS OFFICE IN LONDON. ABU NIDAL SUSPECTED.


5. BEIRUT MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.


SHULTZ