[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2315-E2317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST INCIDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on September 11th, the U.S. suffered the 
most destructive terrorist attack on its soil by Middle Eastern 
terrorists with the suicide bombing of the World Trade Center in New 
York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., which killed over three 
thousand Americans and wounded many more. This was the highest casualty 
toll ever recorded for a single terrorist incident anywhere. Yet the 
U.S. is by no means the only country to feel the wrath of Middle 
Eastern terrorists in recent months.
  The cancer of terrorism that has plagued the Middle East for decades 
has now transformed into new and more deadly forms that pose grave 
challenges to the United States and our allies. Middle Eastern 
terrorists are now striking outside their home region, boldly attacking 
high-profile targets, and killing in a more indiscriminant manner.
  Nonetheless, the Middle East is a hotbed of state-sponsored 
terrorism. Five of the seven states that have been branded by the U.S. 
government as sponsors of international terrorism--Iran, Iraq, Libya, 
Sudan, and Syria--are part of the troubled Middle East region. The 
Middle East is not only infested with more terrorist groups than any 
other region, but the Middle East remains the world's foremost exporter 
of terrorism, with most of the spillover afflicting Western Europe and 
the United States. These state sponsors of terrorism are concerned with 
furthering their national goals only through the use of their terrorist 
networks. It remains imperative, therefore that the United States and 
our allies track down and destroy these terrorist groups and their 
global reach whereever they may be.
  Accordingly, in wanting to bring to the attention of my colleagues a 
list of the significant Middle Eastern terrorist incidents from 1961-
2001 based on the findings of the State Department's Office of the 
Historian, I request that this terrorism list be printed at this point 
in the Record.

       Significant Middle Eastern Terrorist Incidents: 1961-2001


                               1961-1982

       Munich Olympic Massacre, September 5, 1972: Eight 
     Palestinian ``Black September'' terrorists seized 11 Israeli 
     athletes in the Olympic Village in Munich, West Germany. In a 
     bungled rescue attempt by West German authorities, nine of 
     the hostages and five terrorists were killed.
       Ambassador to Sudan Assassinated, March 2, 1973: U.S. 
     Ambassador to Sudan Cleo A. Noel and other diplomats were 
     assassinated at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Khartoum by 
     members of the Black September organization.
       Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976: Members of the 
     Baader-Meinhof Group and the Popular Front for the Liberation 
     of Palestine (PFLP) seized an Air France airliner and its 258 
     passengers. They forced the plane to land in Uganda, where on 
     July 3, Israeli commandos successfully rescued the 
     passengers.
       Iran Hostage Crisis, November 4, 1979: After President 
     Carter agreed to admit the Shah of Iran into the U.S., 
     Iranian radicals

[[Page E2316]]

     seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 American 
     diplomats hostage. Thirteen hostages were soon released, but 
     the remaining 53 were held until their release on January 20, 
     1981.
       Grand Mosque Seizure, November 20, 1979: 200 Islamic 
     terrorists seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 
     taking hundreds of pilgrims hostage. Saudi and French 
     security forces retook the shrine after an intense battle in 
     which some 250 people were killed and 600 wounded.
       Assassination of Egyptian President, October 6, 1981: 
     Soldiers who were secretly members of the Takfir Wal-Hajira 
     sect attacked and killed Egyptian President Anwar Sadat 
     during a troop review.
       Assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister, September 14, 
     1982: Premier Bashir Gemayel was assassinated by a car bomb 
     parked outside his party's Beirut headquarters.


                                  1983

       Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, April 18, 1983: Sixty-
     three people including the CIA's Middle East director, were 
     killed, and 120 were injured in a 400-pound suicide truck-
     bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The 
     Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
       Bombing of Marine Barracks, Beirut, October 23, 1983: 
     Simultaneous suicide truck-bomb attacks were made on American 
     and French compounds in Beirut, Lebanon. A 12,000-pound bomb 
     destroyed the U.S. compound, killing 242 Americans, while 58 
     French troops were killed when a 400-pound device destroyed a 
     French base. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.


                                  1984

       Kidnapping of Embassy Official, March 16, 1984: The Islamic 
     Jihad kidnapped and later murdered Political Officer William 
     Buckley in Beirut, Lebanon. Other U.S. citizens not connected 
     to the U.S. Government were seized over a succeeding 2-year 
     period.
       Hizballah Restaurant Bombing, April 12, 1984: Eighteen U.S. 
     servicemen were killed, and 83 people were injured in a bomb 
     attack on a restaurant near a U.S. Air Force Base in 
     Torrejon, Spain. Responsibility was claimed by Hizballah.


                                  1985

       TWA Hijacking, June 14, 1985: A Trans-World Airlines flight 
     was hijacked en route to Rome from Athens by two Lebanese 
     Hizballah terrorists and forced to fly to Beirut. The eight 
     crew members and 145 passengers were held for 17 days, during 
     which one American hostage, a U.S. Navy sailor, was murdered. 
     After being flown twice to Algiers, the aircraft was returned 
     to Beirut after Israel released 435 Lebanese and Palestinian 
     prisoners.
       Soviet Diplomats Kidnapped, September 30, 1985: In Beirut, 
     Lebanon, Sunni terrorists kidnapped four Soviet diplomats. 
     One was killed, but three were later released.
       Achille Lauro Hijacking, October 7, 1985: Four Palestinian 
     Liberation Front terrorist seized the Italian cruise liner in 
     the eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking more than 700 hostages. 
     One U.S. passenger was murdered before the Egyptian 
     Government offered the terrorists safe haven in return for 
     the hostages' freedom.
       Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, November 23, 1985: An EgyptAir 
     airplane bound from Athens to Malta and carrying several U.S. 
     citizens was hijacked by the Abu Nidal Group.


                                  1986

       Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986: A Palestinian 
     splinter group detonated a bomb as TWA Flight 840 approached 
     Athens Airport, killing four U.S. citizens.
       Berlin Discoteque Bombing, April 5, 1986: Two U.S. soldiers 
     were killed, and 79 American servicemen were injured in a 
     Libyan bomb attack on a nightclub in West Berlin, West 
     Germany. In retaliation, U.S. military jets bombed targets in 
     and around Tripoli and Benghazi.


                                  1988

       Kidnapping of William Higgins, February 17, 1988: U.S. 
     Marine Corps Lt. Col. W. Higgins was kidnapped and murdered 
     by the Iranian-backed Hizballah group while serving with the 
     United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization (UNTSO) in 
     southern Lebanon.
       Naples USO Attack, April 14, 1988: The Organization of 
     Jihad Brigades exploded a car bomb outside a USO Club in 
     Naples, Italy, killing one U.S. sailor.
       Pan Am 103 Bombing, December 21, 1988: Pan American 
     Airlines Flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, by 
     a bomb believed to have been placed on the aircraft in 
     Frankfurt, West Germany, by Libyan terrorists. All 259 people 
     on board were killed.


                                  1991

       Attempted Iraqi Attacks on U.S. Posts, January 18-19, 1991: 
     Iraqi agents planted bombs at the U.S. Ambassador to 
     Indonesia's home residence and at the USIS library in Manila.


                                  1992

       Bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, March 17, 
     1992: Hizballah claimed responsibility for a blast that 
     leveled the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 
     causing the deaths of 29 and wounding 242.


                                  1993

       World Trade Center Bombing, February 26, 1993: The World 
     Trade Center in New York City was badly damaged when a car 
     bomb planted by Islamic terrorists explodes in an underground 
     garage. The bomb left six people dead and 1,000 injured. The 
     men carrying out the attack were followers of Umar Abd al-
     Rahman, an Egyptian cleric who preached in the New York City 
     area.
       Attempted Assassination of President Bush by Iraqi Agents, 
     April 14, 1993: The Iraqi intelligence service attempted to 
     assassinate former U.S. President George Bush during a visit 
     to Kuwait. In retaliation, the U.S. launched a cruise missile 
     attack 2 months later on the Iraqi capital Baghdad.


                                  1994

       Hebron Massacre, February 25, 1994: Jewish right-wing 
     extremist and U.S. citizen Baruch Goldstein machine-gunned 
     Moslem worshippers at a mosque in West Bank town of Hebron, 
     killing 29 and wounding about 150.
       Air France Hijacking, December 24, 1994: Members of the 
     Armed Islamic Group seized an Air France Flight to Algeria. 
     The four terrorists were killed during a rescue effort.


                                  1995

       Jerusalem Bus Attack, August 21, 1995: Hamas claimed 
     responsibility for the detonation of a bomb that killed six 
     and injured over 100 persons, including several U.S. 
     citizens.
       Saudi Military Installation Attack, November 13, 1995: The 
     Islamic Movement of Change planted a bomb in a Riyadh 
     military compound that killed one U.S. citizen, several 
     foreign national employees of the U.S. Government, and more 
     than 40 others.
       Egyptian Embassy Attack, November 19, 1995: A suicide 
     bomber drove a vehicle into the Egyptian Embassy compound in 
     Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 16 and injuring 60 
     persons. Three militant Islamic groups claimed 
     responsibility.


                                  1996

       Hamas Bus Attack, February 26, 1996: In Jerusalem, a 
     suicide bomber blew up a bus, killing 26 persons, including 
     three U.S. citizens, and injuring some 80 persons, including 
     three other US citizens.
       Dizengoff Center Bombing, March 4, 1996: Hamas and the 
     Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) both claimed responsibility for 
     a bombing outside of Tel Aviv's largest shopping mall that 
     killed 20 persons and injured 75 others, including two U.S. 
     citizens.
       West Bank Attack, May 13, 1996: Arab gunmen opened fire on 
     a bus and a group of Yeshiva students near the Bet El 
     settlement, killing a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and wounding 
     three Israelis. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, 
     but Hamas was suspected.
       Zekharya Attack, June 9, 1996: Unidentified gunmen opened 
     fire on a car near Zekharya, killing a dual U.S./Israeli 
     citizen and an Israeli. The Popular Front for the Liberation 
     of Palestine (PFLP) is suspected.
       Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996: A fuel truck carrying 
     a bomb exploded outside the U.S. military's Khobar Towers 
     housing facility in Dhahran, killing 19 U.S. military 
     personnel and wounding 515 persons, including 240 U.S. 
     personnel. Several groups claimed responsibility for the 
     attack.
       Bombing of Archbishop of Oran, August 1, 1996: A bomb 
     exploded at the home of the French Archbishop of Oran, 
     killing him and his chauffeur. The attack occurred after the 
     Archbishop's meeting with the French Foreign Minister. The 
     Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected.
       PUK Kidnapping, September 13, 1996: In Iraq, Patriotic 
     Union of Kurdistan (PUK) militants kidnapped four French 
     workers for Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres, a Canadian United 
     Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official, and 
     two Iraqis.


                                  1997

       Egyptian Letter Bombs, January 2-13, 1997: A series of 
     letter bombs with Alexandria, Egypt, postmarks were 
     discovered at Al-Hayat newspaper bureaus in Washington, New 
     York City, London, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three similar 
     devices, also postmarked in Egypt, were found at a prison 
     facility in Leavenworth, Kansas. Bomb disposal experts 
     defused all the devices, but one donated at the Al-Hayat 
     office in London, injuring two security guards and causing 
     minor damage.
       Empire State Building Sniper Attack, February 23, 1997: A 
     Palestinian gunman opened fire on tourists at an observation 
     deck atop the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 
     a Danish national and wounding visitors from the United 
     States, Argentina, Switzerland, and France before turning the 
     gun on himself. A handwritten note carried by the gunman 
     claimed this was a punishment attack against the ``enemies of 
     Palestine.''
       Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, September 4, 1997: Three 
     suicide bombers of Hamas detonated bombs in the Ben Yehuda 
     shopping mall in Jerusalem, killing eight persons, including 
     the bombers, and wounding nearly 200 others. A dual U.S./
     Israeli citizen was among the dead, and seven U.S. citizens 
     were wounded.
       Yemeni Kidnapping, October 30, 1997: Al-Sha'if tribesman 
     kidnapped a U.S. businessman near Sanaa. The tribesman sought 
     the release of two fellow tribesmen who were arrested on 
     smuggling charges and several public works projects they 
     claim the government promised them. They released the hostage 
     on November 27.
       Tourist killings in Egypt, November 17, 1997: Al-Gama'at 
     al-Islamiyya (IG) gunmen shot and killed 58 tourists and four 
     Egyptians and wounded 26 others at the Hatshepsut Temple in 
     the Valley of the Kings near Luxor. Thirty-four Swiss, eight 
     Japanese, five Germans, four Britons, one French, one 
     Colombian, a dual Bulgarian/British citizen, and four 
     unidentified persons

[[Page E2317]]

     were among the dead. Twelve Swiss, two Japanese, two Germans, 
     one French, and nine Egyptians were among the wounded.


                                  1998

       U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, August 7, 1998: A 
     bomb exploded at the rear entrance of the U.S. embassy in 
     Nariobi, Kenya, killing 12 U.S. citizens, 32 Foreign Service 
     Nationals (FSNs), and 247 Kenyan citizens. About 5,000 
     Kenyans, six U.S. citizens, and 13 FSNs were injured. The 
     U.S. embassy building sustained extensive structural damage. 
     Almost simultaneously, a bomb detonated outside the U.S. 
     embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing seven FSNs and 
     three Tanzanian citizens, and injuring one U.S. citizen and 
     76 Tanzanians. The explosion caused major structural damage 
     to the U.S. embassy facility. The U.S. Government held Usama 
     Bin Ladin responsible.


                                  2000

       Attack on U.S.S. Cole, October 12, 2000: In Aden, Yemen, a 
     small dingy carrying explosives rammed the destroyer U.S.S. 
     Cole, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others. Supporters 
     of Usama Bin Ladin were suspected.


                                  2001

       Bus Stop Bombing, April 22, 2001: A member of Hamas 
     detonated a bomb he was carrying near a bus stop in Kfar 
     Siva, Israel, killing one person and injuring 60.
       Tel-Aviv Nightclub Bombing, June 1, 2001: Hamas claimed 
     responsibility for the bombing of a popular Israeli nightclub 
     that caused over 140 causalities.
       Hamas Restaurant Bombing, August 9, 2001: A Hamas-planted 
     bomb detonated in a Jeruselum pizza restaurant, killing 15 
     people and wounding more than 90.
       Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland, September 11, 2001: Two 
     hijacked airliners crashed into the twin towers of the World 
     Trade Center. Soon thereafter, the Pentagon was struck by a 
     third hijacked plane. A fourth hijacked plane, suspected to 
     be bound for a high-profile target in Washington, crashed 
     into a field in southern Pennsylvania. More than 5,000 U.S. 
     citizens and other nationals were killed as a result of these 
     acts. President Bush and Cabinet officials indicated that 
     Usama Bin Laden was the prime suspect and that they 
     considered the United States in a state of war with 
     international terrorism. In the aftermath of the attacks, the 
     United States formed the Global Coalition Against Terrorism.
       Downtown Jerusalem Bombing, December 2, 2001: Two suicide 
     bombers blew themselves up in downtown Jerusalem killing ten 
     people and wounding more than 130. Hamas claimed 
     responsibility for the attack.
       Haifa Bus Attack, December 3, 2001: A Hamas suicide bomber 
     blew himself up on a public bus in the northern Israeli city 
     of Haifa, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens of 
     others.
       West Bank Bus Attack, December 12, 2001: Palestinian gunman 
     killed eight people and wounded 30 in a grenade and shooting 
     ambush on an Israel bus in the West Bank just minutes before 
     2 suicide bombers struck in the Gaza Strip.

     

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