1978 Terrorism & Security Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1978 Terrorism & Security Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 28 Jan Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing: The Sydney Hilton Hotel was bombed on January 28, 1978, during a conference, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The attack was attributed to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), marking a significant event in Australian history. source: abc.net.au
- 13 Feb Hilton Hotel Bombing in Sydney: On February 13, 1978, a bomb exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia, during the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting. The blast killed two garbage collectors and a police officer, and injured eleven others. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 17 Feb La Mon restaurant bombing: On February 17, 1978, the La Mon restaurant in Northern Ireland was bombed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), resulting in multiple casualties. This attack was part of the ongoing conflict in the region during that period. source: bbc.com
- 16 Mar Assassination of Aldo Moro: On March 16, 1978, Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigades, a Marxist-Leninist terrorist organization. After 55 days in captivity, Moro was found dead on May 9, 1978, leading to a national crisis in Italy. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 08 Apr SAVAK bombing of Iranian dissidents: On April 8, 1978, a bombing attributed to SAVAK, the Iranian secret police, targeted Iranian dissidents in Paris. This attack highlighted the oppressive measures taken by the Shah's regime against opposition figures. source: nytimes.com
- 09 May Tragic end of Aldo Moro kidnapping: On May 9, 1978, the body of Italian politician Aldo Moro was found after being kidnapped by the Red Brigades. His assassination marked a significant moment in Italy's political history and highlighted the threat of domestic terrorism. source: britannica.com
- 18 May Belgian and French paratroopers intervene in Zaire to rescue hostages: On May 18, 1978, Belgian and French paratroopers were airlifted to Zaire to rescue over 2,000 Europeans held hostage by rebels in Kolwezi. The operation, known as Operation Léopard, aimed to secure the town and evacuate the hostages. source: washingtonpost.com
- 19 May French Foreign Legion intervention in Zaire to rescue hostages: On May 19, 1978, the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment was deployed to Kolwezi, Zaire, to rescue over 2,000 Europeans held hostage by rebels. The operation, known as Operation Léopard, successfully liberated the hostages. source: washingtonpost.com
- 25 May First Unabomber bombing at Northwestern University: On May 25, 1978, the Unabomber, later identified as Ted Kaczynski, carried out his first bombing at Northwestern University. The attack injured a university professor and marked the beginning of a series of bombings that would span nearly two decades. source: fbi.gov
- 13 Jun Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from Lebanon: On June 13, 1978, the Israeli Cabinet decided to withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon by June 13, 1978, following the March II terrorist assault on the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway. The withdrawal was coordinated with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). source: jta.org
- 20 Aug El Al airline bus attacked in London: On August 20, 1978, a bus carrying El Al airline staff was ambushed in London by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The attackers opened fire with submachine guns and threw hand grenades, resulting in the death of flight attendant Irit Gidron and injuries to nine others. The terrorist responsible was later captured and sentenced to life imprisonment. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 12 Nov Operation Condor kidnapping of Lilián Celiberti: On November 12, 1978, Lilián Celiberti was kidnapped in Uruguay as part of Operation Condor, a campaign of political repression and state terrorism in South America. This operation involved several countries collaborating to eliminate leftist opposition. Celiberti's abduction highlighted the human rights abuses occurring during this period. source: theguardian.com
What happened in 1978?
Discover what the world looked like in 1978: