Armenian Terrorism - A Chronological Rundown
January 27, 1973 Santa Barbara, California
The Armenian Gourgen Yanikian, a U.S. citizen, invites the
Turkish Consul General, Mehmet Baydar, and the Consul,
Bahadir Demir to a luncheon. The unsuspecting diplomats
accept the friendly invitation. Gourgen Yanikian murders his two
guests. He is sentenced to life imprisonment.
April 4, 1973 Paris
Bombings at the Turkish Consulate General and the offices of
Turkish Airlines (THY). Extensive damage.
October 26, 1973 New York
Attempted bombing of the Turkish Information Office. The bomb
is discovered in time and defused. A group calling itself the
"Yanikian Commandos" claims responsibility. They want the
release of the double murderer of Santa Barbara, Gourgen
Yanikian, who insidiously murdered two Turkish diplomats.
February 7, 1975 Beirut
Attempted bombing of the Turkish Information and Tourism
Bureau. The bomb explodes while being defused. A Lebanese
policeman is injured. The "Prisoner Gourgen Yanikian Group"
claims responsibility.
February 20, 1975 Beirut
The "Yanikian" group demanding the release of the double
murderer of Santa Barbara strikes again. Extensive damage is
caused by a bomb explosion at the THY offices. ASALA
(Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) also
claims responsibility for the bombing.
October 22, 1975 Vienna
The Turkish Ambassador, Danis Tunalgil, is assassinated in
his study by three Armenian terrorists. ASALA claims
responsibility.
October 24, 1975 Paris
Ambassador Ismail Erez and his driver, Talip Yener, are
murdered. The ASALA and the JCAG (Justice Commandos for
the Armenian Genocide) dispute responsibility.
October 28, 1975 Beirut
Grenade attack on the Turkish Embassy. The ASALA claims
responsibility.
February 16, 1976 Beirut
The First Secretary of the Turkish Embassy, Oktar Cirit, is
assassinated in a restaurant on Hamra Street. The ASALA claims
responsibility.
May 17, 1976 Frankfurt, Essen, Cologne
Consulates General in Frankfurt, Essen and Cologne are the
targets of simultaneous bomb attacks.
May 28, 1976 Zurich
Bomb attacks at the offices of the Turkish Labor Attache and the
Garanti Bank. Extensive damage. A bomb in the Turkish Tourism
Bureau is defused in time. Responsibility is claimed by the
JCAG.
May 2, 1977 Beirut
The cars of the Military Attache, Nahit Karakay, and the
Administrative Attache, Ilhan Özbabacan, are destroyed. The
two diplomats are uninjured. Credit is claimed by the ASALA.
May 14, 1977 Paris
Bomb attack at the Turkish Tourism Bureau. Extensive damage.
The "New Armenian Resistance Group" claims responsibility.
June 6, 1977 Zurich
Bomb attack at the store of a Turkish citizen, Hüseyin Bülbül.
June 9, 1977 Rome
Assassination of the Turkish Ambassador to the Holy See, Taha
Carm. He dies soon after the attack. The JCAG claims
responsibility.
October 4, 1977 Los Angeles
Bomb attack at the house of Professor Stanford Shaw, who
teaches Ottoman history at the University of California in Los
Angeles (UCLA). Responsibility is claimed by an "Armenian
Group of 28."
January 2, 1978 Brussels
Bomb attack at a building containing Turkish banking services.
The "New Armenian Resistance" claims credit.
June 2, 1978 Madrid
Terrorist attack on the automobile of the Turkish Ambassador,
Zeki Kuneralp. His wife, Necla Kuneralp, the retired Turkish
Ambassador Besir Balcoglu die immediately in the rain of
gunfire. The Spanish chauffeur, Antonio Torres, dies of his
injuries in the hospital. ASALA and JCAG claim responsibility.
December 6, 1978 Geneva
A bomb explodes in front of the Turkish Consulate General.
Extensive damage. The "New Armenian Resistance Group"
claims responsibility.
December 17, 1978 Geneva
A bomb explodes at the THY Bureau. ASALA claims
responsibility.
July 8, 1979 Paris
The French capital experiences four bomb attacks in a single
day. The first is at the THY offices; the next at the offices of the
Turkish Labor Attache; the third in the Turkish Information and
Tourism Bureau. A fourth explosive, intended for the Turkish
Permanent Representative to the O.E.C.D., is defused before it
explodes. The JCAG claims responsibility.
August 22, 1979 Geneva
A bomb is thrown at the car of the Turkish Consul General,
Niyazi Adal. The diplomat escapes unhurt. Two Swiss
passers-by are injured. Two cars are destroyed.
August 27, 1979 Frankfurt
The offices of THY are totally destroyed by an explosion. A
pedestrian is injured. The ASALA claims responsibility.
October 4, 1979 Copenhagen
Two Danes are injured when a bomb explodes near the offices
of THY. ASALA claims credit.
October 12, 1979 The Hague
Ahmet Benler, the son of Turkish Ambassador Özdemir Benler,
is assassinated by Armenian terrorists. The murderers escape.
JCAG and ASALA claim responsibility.
October 30, 1979 Milan
The offices of THY are destroyed by a bomb explosion. ASALA
claims responsibility.
November 8, 1979 Rome
The Turkish Tourism Office is destroyed by a bomb. ASALA
claims responsibility.
November 18, 1979 Paris
Bomb explosions destroy the offices of THY, KLM, and
Lufthansa. Two French policemen are injured. Responsibility is
claimed by ASALA.
November 25, 1979 Madrid
Bomb explosions in front of the offices of TWA and British
Airways. ASALA, in claiming responsibility, states that the
attacks are meant as a warning to the Pope to cancel his planned
visit to Turkey.
December 9, 1979 Rome
Two bombs explode in downtown Rome, damaging the offices of
PAN AM, British Airways and the Philippine Airways. Nine
people are injured in the terrorist attack. A "New Armenian
Resistance Movement" claims responsibility.
December 17, 1979 London
Extensive damage is caused when a bomb explodes in front of
the THY offices. A "Front for the Liberation of Armenia" claims
responsibility.
December 22, 1979 Paris
Ylmaz Çolpan, the Tourism Attache at the Turkish Embassy is
assassinated while walking on the Champs Elysées. Several
groups, including ASALA, JCAG and the "Commandos of
Armenian Militants Against Genocide" claim responsibility.
December 22, 1979 Amsterdam
Heavy damage results from a bomb explosion in front of the
THY offices. ASALA claims credit.
December 23, 1979 Rome
A bomb explodes in front of a World Council of Churches
Refugee Center, being used as a transit point for Armenian
refugees from Lebanon. ASALA claims credit for the attack and
warns the Italian authorities to halt "the Armenian diaspora."
December 23, 1979 Rome
Three bomb explosions occur in front of the offices of Air
France and TWA, injuring a dozen passers-by. ASALA claims
responsibility, stating that the bomb was placed "in reprisal
against the repressive measures of French authorities against
Armenians in France" (i.e., questioning suspects, carry out
investigations, etc.)
January 10, 1980 Teheran
A bomb which explodes in front of the THY offices causes
extensive damage. ASALA claims responsibility.
January 20, 1980 Madrid
A series of bomb attacks, resulting in numerous injuries, occurs
in front of the offices of TWA, British Airways, Swissair, and
Sabena. The JCAG claims credit for the attacks.
February 2, 1980 Brussels
Two bombs explode within minutes of each other in front of the
downtown offices of THY and Aeroflot. The "New Armenian
Resistance Group" issues a communique in which they claim
responsibility for both attacks.
February 6, 1980 Bern
A terrorist opens fire on Turkish Ambassador Dogan Türkmen,
who escapes with minor wounds. The would-be-assassin, an
Armenian named Max Klindjian, is subsequently arrested in
Marseilles and returned to Switzerland for trial. The JCAG
claims credit for the attack.
February 18, 1980 Rome
The offices of Lufthansa, El Al and Swissair are damaged by
two bomb attacks. Telephone messages give three reasons for the
attacks: 1. The Germans support "Turkish fascism"; 2. The Jews
are Zionists (ASALA); 3. The Swiss behave "repressively"
towards the Armenians.
March 10, 1980 Rome
Bomb attacks on the THY and Turkish Tourism Bureau offices
on the Piazza Della Repubblica. The blasts kill two Italians and
injure fourteen. Credit for the attack is claimed by the "New
Armenian Resistance of the Armenian Secret Army."
April 17, 1980 Rome
The Turkish Ambassador to the Holy See, Vecdi Türel, is shot
and seriously wounded. His chauffeur, Tahsin Güvenç, is also
slightly wounded in the assassination attempt. JCAG claims
responsibility for the attack.
May 19, 1980 Marseilles
A rocket aimed at the Turkish Consulate General in Marseilles is
discovered and defused prior to exploding. ASALA and a group
calling itself "Black April" claim credit for the attack.
July 31, 1980 Athens
Galip Özmen, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish
Embassy, and his family are attacked by Armenian terrorists
while sitting in their car. Galip Özmen and his fourteen-year-old
daughter, Neslihan, are killed in the attack. His wife, Sevil, and
his sixteen-year-old son, Kaan, are wounded. Credit for the
double killing is claimed by ASALA.
August 5, 1980 Lyon
Two terrorists storm into the Turkish Consulate General in Lyon
and open fire, killing two and injuring several other bystanders.
ASALA claims credit for the attack.
August 11, 1980 New York
An "Armenian group" hurls paint bombs at the Turkish House
across from the United Nations, home of the Turkish
Representations in New York.
September 26, 1980 Paris
Selçuk Bakkalbas, the Press Counselor at the Turkish
Embassy, is shot as he enters his home. Bakkalbas survives but
is permanently paralyzed as a result of his injuries. ASALA
claims responsibility for the attack.
October 3, 1980 Geneva
Two Armenian terrorists are injured when a bomb they are
preparing explodes in their Geneva hotel room. The two, Suzy
Mahseredjian from Canoga Park, California, and Alexander
Yenikomechian, are arrested. Their arrest leads to the formation
of a new group called "October 3," which subsequently strikes at
Swiss targets.
October 3, 1980 Milan
Two Italians are injured when a bomb explodes in front of the
THY offices. ASALA claims credit for the attack.
October 5, 1980 Madrid
The offices of Alitalia are rocked by a bomb explosion which
injures twelve individuals. The ASALA claims responsibility
for the attack.
October 6, 1980 Los Angeles
Two molotov cocktails are thrown into the home of the Turkish
Consul General, Kemal Arkan. He survives with injuries.
October 10, 1980 Beirut
Two bombs explode near Swiss offices in West Beirut. A group
calling itself "October 3" claims responsibility for these
bombings as well as others on the same day against Swiss
offices in England.
October 12, 1980 New York
A bomb placed in front of the Turkish House explodes. Four
passers-by are injured. JCAG assumes responsibility.
October 12, 1980 Los Angeles
A travel agency in Hollywood, owned by a Turkish-American, is
destroyed. JCAG claims responsibility.
October 12, 1980 London
The Turkish Tourism and Information Bureau's offices are
damaged by a bomb explosion. ASALA claims credit.
October 12, 1980 London
A Swiss shopping complex in central London is damaged by a
bomb blast. Callers claim the explosion was the work of
"October 3."
October 13, 1980 Paris
A Swiss tourist office is damaged by a bomb explosion.
"October 3" again claims credit.
October 21, 1980 Interlaken, Switzerland
A bomb is found in a Swiss express train coming from Paris.
Luckily, it does not explode. "October 3" is believed to be
behind the action, which could have caused a catastrophe.
November 4, 1980 Geneva
The Swiss Palace of Justice in Geneva is heavily damaged by a
bomb explosion. Credit is claimed by "October 3."
November 9, 1980 Strasbourg
Heavy damage results from a bomb blast at the Turkish
Consulate General. The attack is claimed by ASALA.
November 10, 1980 Rome
Five people are injured in attacks on the Swissair and Swiss
Tourist offices. ASALA and "October 3" claim credit.
November 19, 1980 Rome
The offices of the Turkish Tourism Bureau and those of THY are
damaged by a bomb explosion. ASALA claims responsibility.
November 25, 1980 Geneva
The offices of the Union of Swiss Banks are hit by a bomb
explosion. Responsibility is claimed by "October 3."
December 5, 1980 Marseilles
A police expert defuses a time bomb left at the Swiss Consulate
in Marseilles. "October 3" claims responsibility.
December 15, 1980 London
Two bombs placed in front of the French Tourism Office in
London are defused by a Scotland Yard bomb squad. "October
3" claims the bombs are a warning to the French for assistance
they have rendered the Swiss in fighting Armenian terrorism.
December 17, 1980 Sydney
Two terrorists assassinate sark Aryak, the Turkish Consul
General, and his bodyguard, Engin Sever. JCAG claims
responsibility.
December 25, 1980 Zurich
A bomb explosion destroys a radar monitor at Kloten Airport,
and a second explosive planted on the main runway of the airport
is defused. "October 3" claims credit for these attempted
mass-murders.
December 29, 1980 Madrid
A Spanish reporter is seriously injured in a telephone booth
while calling in a story to his paper about the bomb attack on the
Swissair offices. "October 3" claims responsibility.
December 30, 1980 Beirut
Bomb attack on the Credit-Suisse offices. ASALA and "October
3" fight over who gets the credit.
January 2, 1981 Beirut
In a press communique, ASALA threatens to "attack all Swiss
diplomats throughout the world" in response to the alleged
mistreatment of "Suzy and Alex" in Switzerland. On January 4,
ASALA issues a statement giving the Swiss a few days to think
things over.
January 14, 1981 Paris
A bomb explodes in the car of Ahmet Erbeyli, the Economic
Counselor of the Turkish Embassy. Erbeyli is not injured, but the
explosion totally destroys his car. A group calling itself the
"Alex Yenikomechian Commandos" of ASALA claims credit for
the explosion.
January 27, 1981 Milan
The Swissair and Swiss Tourist offices in Milan are damaged by
bomb explosions. Two passers-by are injured. "October 3"
claims credit for the bombing in a call to local media
representatives.
February 3, 1981 Los Angeles
Bomb-squad officials disarm a bomb left at the Swiss Consulate.
The terrorists threaten in anonymous phone calls that such attacks
will continue until Suzy Mahseredjian is released.
February 5, 1981 Paris
Bombs explode in the TWA and Air France offices. One injured,
heavy material damage. "October 3" claims credit.
March 4, 1981 Paris
Two terrorists open fire on Resat Moral, Labor Attache at the
Turkish Embassy, Tecelli Ar, Religious Affairs Attache, and
Ilkay Karakoç, the Paris representative of the Anadolu Bank.
Moral and Ar are assassinated. Karakoç manages to escape.
ASALA claims responsibility.
March 12, 1981 Teheran
A group of ASALA terrorists try to occupy the Turkish Embassy,
killing two guards in the process. Two of the perpetrators are
captured and later executed by the Iranians. ASALA claims
credit.
April 3, 1981 Copenhagen
Cavit Demir, the Labor Attache at the Turkish Embassy, is shot
as he enters his apartment building late in the evening and is
seriously wounded. Both ASALA and JCAG claim the attack.
June 3, 1981 Los Angeles
Bombs force the cancellation of performances by a Turkish
folk-dance group. Threats of similar bombings force the group's
performances in San Francisco to be canceled as well.
June 9, 1981 Geneva
Mehmet Savas Yergüz, Secretary in the Turkish Consulate, is
assassinated by the Armenian terrorist Mardiros Jamgotchian.
The arrest of the ASALA terrorist leads to the formation of a
new ASALA branch called the "Ninth of June Organization,"
which will be responsible for a new series of attacks.
June 11, 1981 Paris
A group of Armenian terrorists, led by one Ara Toranian,
occupies the THY offices. Initially ignored by the French
authorities, the terrorists are only evicted from the premises after
vehement protests from the Turkish Embassy.
June 19, 1981 Teheran
A bomb explodes at the offices of Swissair. The "Ninth of June
Organization" claims responsibility.
June 26, 1981 Los Angeles
A bomb explodes in front of the Swiss Banking Corporation
offices. Again the work of the "Ninth of June Organization."
July 19, 1981 Bern
A bomb explodes at the Swiss Parliament Building. "Ninth of
June" claims responsibility.
July 20, 1981 Zurich
"Ninth of June" strikes again. A bomb explodes in an automatic
photo-booth at Zurich's international airport.
July 21, 1981 Lausanne
Twenty women are injured as a bomb laid by Armenian
terrorists explodes in a department store. "Ninth of June" claims
responsibility.
July 22, 1981 Geneva
A bomb explodes in a locker at the train station. Authorities
suspect "Ninth of June."
July 22, 1981 Geneva
An hour later, a second bomb explodes in a locker at the station.
Police cordoned off the area following the first explosion,
thereby preventing injuries from the second.
August 11, 1981 Copenhagen
Two bombs destroy the offices of Swissair. An American tourist
is injured in the explosion. "Ninth of June" claims
responsibility.
August 20, 1981 Los Angeles
A bomb explodes outside the offices of Swiss Precision
Instruments. The attack is claimed by "Ninth of June."
August 20, 1981 Paris
Explosion at Alitalia Airlines. "October 3" is back in action.
September 15, 1981 Copenhagen
Two people are injured as a bomb explodes in front of the THY
offices. Police experts manage to defuse a second bomb. Credit
is claimed by a "Sixth Armenian Liberation Army."
September 17, 1981 Teheran
A bomb explosion damages a Swiss Embassy building.
ASALA's "Ninth of June" claims responsibility.
September 24, 1981 Paris
Four Armenian terrorists occupy the Turkish Consulate General.
During their entry into the building, the Consul, Kaya Inal, and a
security guard, Cemal Özen, are seriously wounded. Terrorists
take 56 hostages. Özen dies of his injuries in the hospital. The
terrorists are ASALA members.
October 3, 1981 Geneva
The main post office and the city courthouse are hit by bomb
explosions. An ASALA member is scheduled to go on trial for
murder in the courthouse. "Ninth of June" claims credit for the
attacks, which leave one person injured.
October 25, 1981 Rome
An Armenian terrorist fires at Gökberk Ergenekon, Second
Secretary at the Turkish Embassy. Ergenekon is wounded in the
arm. ASALA claims credit in the name of the "September 24
Suicide Commandos."
October 25, 1981 Paris
Fouquet's, the fashionable French restaurant, is the target of a
bomb attack. A group calling itself "September-France" claims
the attack.
October 26, 1981 Paris
The same group is behind the explosion of a booby-trapped
automobile in front of "Le Drugstore."
October 27, 1981 Paris
"September-France" carries out a bomb attack at Roissy
Airport.
October 27, 1981 Paris
A second bomb explodes near a busy escalator at Roissy
Airport. No one is injured. "September-France" claims
responsibility.
October 28, 1981 Paris
The same group is responsible for a bomb attack in a movie
theater. Three people are injured.
November 3, 1981 Madrid
A bomb explodes in front of the Swissair offices, injuring three
persons. Considerable damage to nearby buildings. ASALA
claims responsibility.
November 5, 1981 Paris
A bomb explodes in the Gare de Lyon, injuring one person. The
attack is claimed by the Armenian "Orly Organization."
November 12, 1981 Beirut
Simultaneous bomb explosions occur in front of three French
offices: the French Cultural Center, the Air France offices and
the home of the French Consul General. The "Orly Organization"
claims responsibility. This organization owes its name to the fact
that the French police arrested an Armenian at Orly Airport in
Paris because of forged papers. The idea now is to "bomb him
free."
November 14, 1981 Paris
A bomb explosion damages an automobile near the Eiffel Tower.
"Orly" claims responsibility.
November 14, 1981 Paris
"Orly" launches a grenade attack on a group of tourists
disembarking from a sightseeing boat on the River Seine.
November 15, 1981 Paris
"Orly" threatens to blow up an Air France airplane in flight.
November 15, 1981 Beirut
Simultaneous bomb attacks are carried out against three French
targets: the "Union des Assurances de Paris", the Air France
offices and the "Banque Libano-Française". "Orly" is
responsible.
November 15, 1981 Paris
A McDonald's restaurant is destroyed by "September-France."
November 16, 1981 Paris
A bomb injures two innocent bystanders at the Gare de l'Est.
"Orly" claims responsibility.
November 18, 1981 Paris
"Orly" announces that it has planted a bomb at the Gare du Nord.
November 20, 1981 Los Angeles
The Turkish Consulate General in Beverly Hills suffers
extensive damage. The JCAG claims credit.
January 13, 1982 Toronto
An ASALA bomb causes extensive damage to the Turkish
Consulate General.
January 17, 1982 Geneva
Two bombs destroy parked cars. The ASALA "Ninth of June
Organization" claims credit.
January 17, 1982 Paris
A bomb explodes at the Union of Banks and a second is
disarmed at the Credit Lyonnais. "Orly" claims responsibility.
January 19, 1982 Paris
A bomb explodes in the Air France offices in the Palais des
Congres. "Orly" claims responsibility.
January 28, 1982 Los Angeles
Kemal Arkan, the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles, is
assassinated by two terrorists while driving to work. Nineteen
year old Hampig Sassounian is arrested and sentenced to life.
March 22, 1982 Cambridge, Massachusetts
A gift shop belonging to Orhan Gündüz, the Turkish Honorary
Consul General in Boston, is blown up. Gündüz receives an
ultimatum: Either he gives up his honorary position or he will be
"executed." Responsibility is claimed by the JCAG.
March 26, 1982 Beirut
Two dead, sixteen injured in an explosion at a movie theater.
ASALA claims credit for the attack.
April 8, 1982 Ottawa
Kani Güngör, the Commercial Attache at the Turkish Embassy in
Ottawa, is seriously wounded in an attack by Armenian terrorists
in the garage of his apartment house. ASALA claims
responsibility.
April 24, 1982 Dortmund, West Germany
Several Turkish-owned businesses suffer extensive damage in
bomb attacks. The "New Armenian Resistance Organization"
claims responsibility.
May 4, 1982 Cambridge, Massachusetts
Orhan Gündüz, the Turkish Honorary Consul General in Boston
is assassinated. The murderer is still at large.
May 10, 1982 Geneva
Bombs explode at two banks. The attacks are claimed by an
Armenian "World Punishment Organization."
May 18, 1982 Toronto
Four Armenians are arrested for trying to smuggle money out of
the country. The money was extorted from Armenians, a common
practice throughout the world. In the course of the investigation,
it is discovered that the terrorists fire-bombed the house of an
Armenian who refused to make his contribution to Armenian
terrorism.
May 18, 1982 Tampa, Florida
Attack at the office of Nash Karahan, the Turkish Honorary
Consul General.
May 26, 1982 Los Angeles
A bomb damages the office of Swiss Banking Corporation. The
suspects: four Armenians accused of involvement in ASALA.
May 30, 1982 Los Angeles
Three members of ASALA are arrested when planting a bomb in
the Air Canada cargo-office.
June 7, 1982 Lisbon
The Administrative Attache at the Turkish Embassy, Erkut
Akbay, and his wife, Nadide Akbay, are assassinated in front of
their home. JCAG claims responsibility.
July 1, 1982 Rotterdam
Kemalettin Demirer, the Turkish Consul General in Rotterdam, is
shot down by four Armenian terrorists. An "Armenian Red
Army" claims responsibility.
July 21, 1982 Paris
Sixteen injured in a bomb explosion near a cafe in the Place
Saint-Severin. Credit is claimed by the Orly Organization.
"Orly" complains that the French do not treat the arrested
Armenian terrorists as "political prisoners," but rather as
ordinary criminals.
July 26, 1982 Paris
"Orly" is responsible for injuring two women in an explosion in
Paris' "Pub Saint-Germain."
August 2, 1982 Paris
Pierre Gulumian, an Armenian terrorist, is killed when a bomb
he is making explodes in his face.
August 7, 1982 Ankara, Esenboga Airport
Two Armenian terrorists open fire in a crowded passenger
waiting room. One of the terrorists takes more than twenty
hostages while the second is apprehended by the police. Nine
people are dead and eighty-two injured&emdash;some seriously.
The surviving terrorist, Levon Ekmekjian is arrested and
sentenced.
August 8, 1982 Paris
A bomb is defused in time. "Orly" regrets the discovery.
August 12, 1982 Paris
Terrorists open fire on a policeman assigned to protect the
offices of the Turkish Tourism Attache. Luckily, he escapes
without injury.
August 27, 1982 Ottawa
Colonel Atilla Altkat, the Military Attache at the Turkish
Embassy, is assassinated in his car. JCAG claims responsibility.
September 9, 1982 Burgaz, Bulgaria
Bora Süelkan, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish
Consulate General in Burgaz, is assassinated in front of his
home. The assassin leaves a message "We shot dead the Turkish
diplomat: Combat Units of Justice Against the Armenian
Genocide." An anonymous caller claims that the assassination is
the work of a branch of the ASALA.
October 26, 1982 Los Angeles
Five Armenian terrorists are charged with conspiring to blow up
the offices of the Honorary Turkish Consul General in
Philadelphia. All belong to the JCAG.
December 8, 1982 Athens
Two Armenians on a motorbike throw a bomb at the offices of
the Saudi Arabian Airlines. The bomb hits a power pylon,
explodes and kills one of the terrorists. His accomplice, an
Armenian from Iran named Vahe Kontaverdian is arrested. It is
later revealed that ASALA ordered the attack because Saudi
Arabia maintains friendly relations with Turkey.
January 21, 1983 Anaheim, California
Nine "sophisticated" pipe bombs are confiscated from an
Armenian bakery after one of the detonators goes off and causes
fire.
January 22, 1983 Paris
Two terrorists attack the offices of THY with hand grenades. No
one is injured. ASALA claims credit.
January 22, 1983 Paris
French police defuse a powerful explosive device near the THY
counter at Orly airport.
February 2, 1983 Brussels
The offices of THY are bombed. The "New Armenian
Resistance Organization" claims responsibility.
February 28, 1983 Luxembourg
A bomb placed in front of Turkey's diplomatic mission is
defused. The Armenian Reporter in New York reports that the
"New Armenian Resistance Organization" is responsible.
February 28, 1983 Paris
A bomb explodes at the Marmara Travel Agency. Killed in the
explosion is Renée Morin, a French secretary. Four other
Frenchmen are wounded. A few minutes after the attack, ASALA
claims responsibility.
March 9, 1983 Belgrade
Galip Balkar, the Turkish Ambassador to Yugoslavia is
assassinated in central Belgrade. His chauffeur, Necati Kayar is
shot in the stomach. As the two assailants flee from the scene,
they are bravely pursued by Yugoslav citizens. One of the
terrorists shoots and wounds a Yugoslav Colonel, and is in turn
apprehended by a policeman. The second terrorist opens fire on
civilians who are chasing him, killing a young student and
wounding a young girl. The two terrorists, Kirkor Levonian and
Raffi Elbekian, are tried and sentenced.
March 31, 1983 Frankfurt
An anonymous caller threatened to bomb the offices and kill the
staff of Tercüman newspaper, a Turkish daily.
May 24, 1983 Brussels
Bombs explode in front of the Turkish Embassy's Culture and
Information offices and in front of a Turkish-owned travel
agency. The Italian director of the travel agency is wounded.
ASALA claims credit.
June 16, 1983 Istanbul
Armenian terrorists carry out an attack with hand grenades and
automatic weapons inside the covered bazaar in Istanbul. Two
dead, twenty-one wounded. ASALA claims responsibility.
July 8, 1983 Paris
Armenian terrorists attack the offices of the British Council,
protesting against the trials of Armenians in London.
July 14, 1983 Brussels
Armenian terrorists murder Dursun Aksoy, the Administrative
Attache at the Turkish Embassy. ASALA, ARA and JCAG claim
responsibility.
July 15, 1983 Paris
A bomb explodes in front of the THY counter at Orly airport.
Eight dead, more than sixty injured. A 29 years old
Syrian-Armenian named Varadjian Garbidjian confesses to
having planted the bomb. He admits that the bomb was intended
to have exploded once the plane was airborne.
July 15, 1983 London
A bomb, similar to the one that exploded at Orly, is defused in
time. ASALA claims responsibility for both attacks.
July 18, 1983 Lyon
A bomb threat is made by ASALA against the Lyon railroad
station.
July 20, 1983 Lyon
Panicky evacuation of Lyon's Gare de Perrache following a
bomb threat from ASALA.
July 22, 1983 Teheran
"Orly" carries out bomb attacks on the French Embassy and Air
France.
July 27, 1983 Lisbon
Five Armenian terrorists attempt to storm the Turkish Embassy in
Lisbon. Failing to gain access to the chancery, they occupy the
residence, taking the Deputy Chief of Mission(DCM) and his
family hostage. When explosives being planted by the terrorists
go off, Cahide Mhçoglu, wife of the DCM and four of the
terrorists are blown to pieces. The DCM, Yurtsev Mhçoglu,
and his son Atasay are injured. The fifth terrorist is killed in the
initial assault by Turkish security forces. One Portuguese
policeman is also killed and another wounded. The ARA claims
responsibility.
July 28, 1983 Lyon
Another bomb threat on Lyon-Perrache railroad station. ASALA
claims responsibility.
July 29, 1983 Teheran
A threat to blow up the French Embassy in Teheran with a rocket
attack causes Iranian officials to increase security at the facility.
July 31, 1983 Lyon and Rennes
Bomb threats from Armenian terrorists force the emergency
landing of two domestic French flights carrying 424 passengers.
August 10, 1983 Teheran
A bomb explodes in an automobile at the French Embassy.
ASALA claims credit for the attack.
August 25, 1983 Bonn
A whole series of bomb attacks against offices of the French
Consulate General claim two lives and leave twenty-three
injured. ASALA claims responsibility.
September 9, 1983 Teheran
Two French Embassy cars are bombed. One of the bombs injures
two embassy staff members. ASALA claims credit.
October 1, 1983 Marseilles
A bomb blast destroys the U.S., Soviet and Algerian pavilions at
an international trade fair in Marseilles. One person is killed and
twenty-six injured. ASALA and "Orly" claim credit.
October 6, 1983 Teheran
A French Embassy vehicle is bombed, injuring two passengers.
"Orly" claims responsibility.
October 29, 1983 Beirut
Hand-grenade attack on the French Embassy. One of the ASALA
terrorists is arrested.
October 29, 1983 Beirut
The Turkish Embassy is attacked by three Armenian terrorists.
One of the assailants, Sarkis Denielian, a 19 years old
Lebanese-Armenian is apprehended. ASALA claims
responsibility.
February 8, 1984 Paris
Bomb threat on an Air France flight to New York.
March 28, 1984 Teheran
A timed series of attacks is carried out against Turkish
diplomats:
Two Armenian terrorists shoot and seriously wound Sergeant
Ismail Pamukçu, employed at the office of the Turkish Military
Attache;
Hasan Servet Öktem, First Secretary of the Turkish Embassy, is
slightly wounded as he leaves his home;
Ibrahim Özdemir, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish
Embassy, alerts police to two suspicious looking men. They turn
out to be Armenian terrorists and are arrested;
In the afternoon of the same day, Iranian police arrest three more
Armenian terrorists outside the Turkish Embassy;
An Armenian terrorist is killed when a bomb he is attempting to
plant in the car of the Turkish Assistant Commercial Counselor
explodes prematurely. The dead terrorist is later identified as
Sultan Gregorian Semaperdan (ASALA).
March 29, 1984 Los Angeles
ASALA sends a written threat, saying they will assassinate
Turkish athletes who take part in the Olympics.
April 8, 1984 Beirut
ASALA issues a communique warning that all flights to Turkey
will be considered military targets.
April 26, 1984 Ankara
The Turkish Prime Minister, Turgut Özal, receives a threat
warning him that if he goes ahead with a planned visit to
Teheran, ASALA will schedule a major terrorist operation
against his country.
April 28, 1984 Teheran
Two Armenian terrorists riding a motorcycle open fire on Isk
Yönder as he drives his wife, Sadiye Yönder, to the Turkish
Embassy where she works. Isk Yönder is killed, and ASALA
claims credit for yet another senseless murder.
June 20, 1984 Vienna
A bomb explodes in a car belonging to Erdogan Özen, Assistant
Labor and Social Affairs Counselor at the Turkish Embassy in
Vienna. Özen is killed and five others seriously wounded,
including a policeman. ARA terrorists claim credit for the
crime.
June 25, 1984 Los Angeles
A news agency office in France receives a letter threatening to
attack all governments, organizations and companies which
assist, in any way whatsoever, Turkey's team at the Los Angeles
Olympics.
August 13, 1984 Lyon
A bomb explodes in a Lyon train station causing minor damage.
ASALA claims credit.
September 1984 Teheran
Several Turkish owned firms in Iran come under attack after
receiving warning letters informing them that they are to be
targeted. The first victim is the Sezai Türkes Company. A
Turkish employee is injured while fighting the fire caused by the
explosion. A chain of smaller scale acts of intimidation follows.
September 1, 1984 Teheran
Iranian authorities expose a plot to assassinate Ismet Birsel, the
Turkish Ambassador to Teheran.
September 3, 1984 Istanbul
Two Armenian terrorists die as one of their bombs goes off too
soon. The ARA claims credit.
November 19, 1984 Vienna
Evner Ergun, Deputy Director of the Centre for Social
Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations,
Vienna is assassinated while driving to work. The assassins
leave a flag with the initials "ARA" on his body.
December 1984 Brussels
Authorities are able to thwart a bombing attempt at the residence
of Selçuk Incesu, Turkish Consul General.
December 29, 1984 Beirut
Two French buildings in East Beirut are bombed. ASALA
claims credit.
December 29, 1984 Paris
Following an ASALA threat to blow up an Air France plane,
police increase security at the Charles de Gaulle Airport.
January 3, 1985 Beirut
The offices of Agence France Presse are extensively damaged
when a bomb explodes.
March 3, 1985 Paris
An anonymous caller to Agence France Presse threatens to attack
French interests throughout the world upon the indictment of the
three terrorists who participated in the Orly attack.
March 12, 1985 Ottawa
Three heavily armed terrorists storm the Turkish Embassy,
killing a Canadian security guard in the process. After blowing
up the front door, the gunmen enter the building. Ambassador
Coskun Krca manages to escape but suffers extensive injuries.
The wife and daughter of the Ambassador, who were taken
hostage, are later released, and the terrorists surrender. ARA
claims responsibility.
March 26, 1985 Toronto
A threat to blow up the city of Toronto's transit system leads to
chaos during the rush hour. An "Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Our Homeland" claims responsibility for the
threat.
November 1985 Brussels
A special anti-terrorist security squad of the Belgian police
exposes and arrests three Armenian terrorists with Portuguese
passports. They were planning an attack on Turkish officers at
NATO headquarters.
November 28, 1985 Paris
French police arrest the leader of the terrorist
organization&emdash;the "Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia-Revolutionary Movement"
(ASALA-RM)&emdash;Mr. Monte Melkonian, a U.S. citizen. In
Melkonian's apartment, police confiscate weapons, explosive
devices, arrival and departure information on Turkish ships
scheduled to visit France and a picture of Turkey's Ambassador
to France, Adnan Bulak.
December 1985 Paris
Forty-one shoppers in two of Paris' leading department stores
(Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps) are injured (twelve
seriously) when nearly simultaneous bomb explosions rip
through the stores. In the ensuing panic, some 10,000 Christmas
shoppers flee into the street. The Armenian Reporter, published
in New York, reports in its December 12th issue that French law
enforcement authorities are concentrating on ASALA as the most
likely perpetrator. ASALA later takes credit for the two
bombings.
November 23, 1986 Melbourne
At 2:15 a.m. a bomb explodes in front of the Turkish Consulate
General. One dead -presumedly the perpetrator- and one
Australian injured.