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