1986 Terrorism & Security Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1986 Terrorism & Security Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 07 Jan US imposes economic sanctions on Libya in response to terrorist attacks: On January 7, 1986, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Libya following its involvement in terrorist attacks at Rome and Vienna airports in December 1985. These sanctions included a total ban on direct import and export trade, commercial contracts, and travel-related activities, as well as the freezing of Libyan government assets in the U.S. source: reaganlibrary.gov
- 08 Jan US freezes Libyan assets in response to terrorism support: On January 8, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed an executive order freezing Libyan government assets in the United States, including those of its agencies and controlled entities. This action was taken as a precaution against potential Libyan seizure of U.S. assets and in response to Libya's alleged support for terrorism, particularly following the December 1985 airport attacks in Rome and Vienna that resulted in 19 deaths, including five Americans. source: washingtonpost.com
- 16 Jan IRA members arrested in Amsterdam with weapons cache: On January 16, 1986, Dutch police arrested two Irish Republican Army (IRA) fugitives, Brendan McFarlane and Gerard Kelly, in Amsterdam. The authorities discovered a large arms cache, including 14 automatic rifles, two pistols, two grenades, and 70,000 rounds of ammunition. Both men had escaped from Belfast's Maze prison in 1983 and were wanted for bombings in Northern Ireland and Britain. source: upi.com
- 17 Jan Reagan authorizes covert arms sales to Iran: On January 17, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a secret intelligence finding authorizing the sale of weapons and spare parts to Iran. This directive aimed to establish a more moderate government in Iran, obtain significant intelligence, and further the release of American hostages held in Beirut. The operation was conducted covertly, with the National Security Council facilitating the sales through intermediaries to avoid direct U.S. involvement. source: britannica.com
- 21 Jan Car bomb kills 27 in East Beirut: On January 21, 1986, a car bomb exploded in a Christian neighborhood of East Beirut, killing at least 27 people and wounding over 100. The blast, which occurred near an office of President Amin Gemayel's Phalangist Party, destroyed a seven-story office building and set numerous cars ablaze. The attack was the first car bombing in Lebanon that year, and no group claimed responsibility. source: washingtonpost.com
- 27 Mar Russell Street Police HQ car bombing in Melbourne, Australia: On March 27, 1986, a car bomb exploded outside the Russell Street Police Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, killing Constable Angela Taylor and injuring 22 others. The attack caused significant damage to the police complex and surrounding buildings. The perpetrators, Stanley Taylor and Craig Minogue, were convicted of murder and related offenses. Taylor died in prison in 2016, and Minogue remains incarcerated. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 05 Apr La Belle discotheque bombing in West Berlin: On April 5, 1986, a bomb exploded at the La Belle discotheque in West Berlin, killing three people—including two U.S. soldiers—and injuring 229 others. The nightclub was popular among American servicemen. The U.S. government accused Libya of orchestrating the attack, leading to retaliatory airstrikes on Tripoli and Benghazi. In 2001, four individuals were convicted in connection with the bombing, with Libya being held responsible for the attack. source: britannica.com
- 15 Apr US launches air strikes on Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon: On April 15, 1986, the United States conducted air strikes against Libya, targeting military sites in Tripoli and Benghazi. The operation, known as El Dorado Canyon, was in retaliation for the bombing of a West Berlin nightclub, La Belle, which killed two people and injured over 200, including U.S. servicemen. The U.S. government held Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi responsible for the attack. The air strikes resulted in the death of Gaddafi's adopted daughter, Hanna, and at least 15 other civilians. The operation also led to the destruction of Libyan military assets, including aircraft and radar systems. The U.S. lost one F-111 bomber during the mission. source: britannica.com
- 17 Apr John McCarthy kidnapped in Beirut: On April 17, 1986, British journalist John McCarthy was abducted in Beirut, Lebanon, while en route to the airport. His captors, the previously unknown group Hilal Ibn Al Khadafy, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, which occurred two days after U.S. airstrikes on Libya. McCarthy was held hostage for over five years before being released on August 8, 1991. source: upi.com
- 03 May Bombing of Air Lanka Flight 512 at Colombo Airport: On May 3, 1986, Air Lanka Flight 512, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, was destroyed by a bomb explosion at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The explosion occurred while the aircraft was on the ground, preparing for departure to Malé, Maldives. The bomb, concealed in the aircraft's 'Fly Away Kit' among cargo, was believed to have been planted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to sabotage peace talks between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government. The blast resulted in 21 fatalities and 41 injuries among the 148 occupants, including passengers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Maldives, and Pakistan. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 16 May Cokeville Elementary School bombing incident: On May 16, 1986, a tragic bombing occurred at Cokeville Elementary School in Wyoming, where a former town marshal and his wife took hostages. The incident resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to many others. The event is remembered for its impact on the community and the subsequent changes in school safety protocols. source: history.com
- 14 Jul Plaza República Dominicana bombing in Madrid by ETA: On July 14, 1986, the Basque separatist group ETA carried out a car bomb attack in Madrid's Plaza República Dominicana, killing 12 Civil Guard cadets and injuring 32 others. The victims were members of the Guardia Civil studying at a nearby traffic school. The attack was part of ETA's campaign during that period, which included several other bombings in Madrid. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 26 Jul Release of Rev. Lawrence Martin Jenco from captivity in Lebanon: On July 26, 1986, Rev. Lawrence Martin Jenco, an American Catholic priest and director of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon, was released after 18 months in captivity. He was freed by his captors, the Islamic Jihad, in the Syrian-controlled Bekaa Valley and handed over to U.S. officials in Syria. President Ronald Reagan expressed gratitude for Jenco's safe return and emphasized the ongoing efforts to secure the release of other hostages. source: reaganlibrary.gov
- 19 Aug Car bomb explosion in Tehran's Ferdowsi Square kills at least 20: On August 19, 1986, a car bomb exploded in Tehran's Ferdowsi Square during the morning rush hour, killing at least 20 people and injuring scores of others. The blast damaged a bus, four cars, and seven motorcycles, and shattered windows in nearby buildings. The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that 50 pounds of TNT had been planted in the car, a French-made Jiyan. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the news agency blamed 'agents of international imperialism,' referring to anti-government underground groups such as the Mujahedeen. The Mujahedeen, in turn, accused the Iranian government of staging the bombing to tarnish the image of the Iranian people's resistance. source: latimes.com
- 06 Sep Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking incident: On September 6, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by four armed men from the Abu Nidal Organization while it was on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan. The hijackers held the passengers hostage for 16 hours, resulting in the deaths of 20 people and injuries to many others. The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in airport security and led to changes in international aviation protocols. source: britannica.com
- 14 Sep Bombing at Pub-Renault in Paris kills two policemen: On September 14, 1986, a bomb exploded at the Pub-Renault, a popular café and restaurant on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The blast resulted in the deaths of two policemen and seriously injured a waiter. The attack was attributed to the Committee of Solidarity with Arab and Middle Eastern Political Prisoners (CSPPA), a group affiliated with Hezbollah, which had been responsible for a series of bombings in Paris during that period. source: upi.com
- 17 Sep Rue de Rennes bombing in Paris kills seven: On September 17, 1986, a bomb exploded outside the Tati department store on Rue de Rennes in Paris, killing seven people and injuring 55 others. The attack was attributed to Hezbollah militants, specifically the Committee of Solidarity with Arab and Middle Eastern Political Prisoners (CSPPA), led by Fouad Ali Saleh. This bombing was part of a series of attacks aimed at pressuring France to cease support for Iraq in its conflict with Iran and to secure the release of detained terrorists. source: washingtonpost.com
- 02 Nov David Jacobsen released after 17 months in captivity in Lebanon: David Jacobsen, administrator of the American University Hospital in Beirut, was released by the Islamic Jihad after 17 months of captivity. He was freed near the former U.S. Embassy in west Beirut and was later flown to Wiesbaden, West Germany, for medical evaluation. Jacobsen's release raised hopes for the freedom of other American hostages held in Lebanon. source: washingtonpost.com
- 03 Nov Ash-Shiraa exposes U.S. arms sales to Iran: On November 3, 1986, the Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reported that the United States had been secretly selling arms to Iran in an effort to secure the release of seven American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon. This revelation contradicted the U.S. arms embargo against Iran and President Reagan's policy of not negotiating with terrorists. source: history.com
- 13 Nov Reagan admits to secret arms sales to Iran: On November 13, 1986, President Ronald Reagan publicly acknowledged the secret sale of small amounts of defensive weapons and spare parts to Iran. He stated that these deliveries were intended to signal a new relationship with Iran and were not part of an exchange for hostages. Reagan emphasized that the shipments were modest and could fit into a single cargo plane, asserting they did not affect the military balance between Iran and Iraq. source: reaganlibrary.gov
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