Acts of terror are no longer a phenomenon
that can be conveniently ignored by the masses. In fact, with
extremists continually seeking weapons of mass destruction, the threat
of terrorism looms everywhere. With our attention so attuned, here is a
list of 10 of the deadliest, and most notorious, acts of terror.
10. Bombing of USS Cole
Fatalities: 17; Injuries: 39
Terrorists usually pursue what are termed “soft targets”. These are
areas or property (including people) that offer little in the way of
security or threat to the terrorist themselves. It’s rare, therefore,
that acts of terror are carried out on military targets. Such, was the
case, however, on October 12, 2000, when suicide bombers attacked the
American warship, USS Cole. The Cole was in port at Aden, Yemen to take
on fuel. Incidentally, this was the same port in which Al Qaeda
attempted a suicide attack on the USS The Sullivans earlier in the year.
Without any warning to the contrary, security around the warship was
light. A small motorboat,
laden with explosives, sped up to the anchored ship and exploded on the
port side. The small boat contained 400-700 pounds of explosives that
caused a 40×40-foot rupture in the Cole’s hull. The explosion occurred
near the galley of the ship, where sailors were gathering to eat.
Al Qaeda, in the ongoing efforts directed against America, claimed
responsibility. US Naval forces, as a result, increased port security
measures, but the damage was already done. Al Qaeda, according to
intelligence reports, realized a significant rise in recruitment and
financing as a result of this success against an American military
target.
9. Anthrax Letter Attacks
Fatalities: 5; Injuries: 17
With the nation already on edge following the 9/11, attack the nation
was again coping with the threat of terror just weeks later. On
September 18 and October 9, 2001, letters were mailed to several media
news outlets, and two U.S. Senators, that contained the deadly chemical
agent Anthrax
(in powder form). The notes that were included with the letters
pointed to extremist religious groups. As several people were exposed,
and subsequently killed, from Anthrax exposure, the level of anxiety
around the nation was high.
Investigators, however, soon became convinced that the attack was not
carried out by any foreign religious group, such as Al Qaeda. The
investigation began to focus on Dr. Bruce E. Ivins, who was a scientist
employed at a Federal bio-defense lab. Dr. Ivins soon became the FBI’s
primary suspect. With federal charges being considered, Dr. Ivins
committed suicide on July 27, 2008. Several weeks later, federal
prosecutors announced that Dr. Ivins was the sole perpetrator of the
Anthrax attack. This attack was the second of only two bio attacks to
be carried out in the US. It resulted in government officials taking
Cipro, a powerful antibiotic, and increased security and scrutiny of
mail.
8. Salmonella Attack
Injuries: 750
The threat of a biological attack has garnered a good deal of
attention and concern in recent years. The threat, and its potential
for harm, is clearly evidenced by the salmonella attack in Oregon. From
September 9-19, 1984, several hundred people were deliberately poisoned by salmonella spores.
The attack was perpetrated by a cult-like group called the
Rajneeshee. The group was led by an Indian mystic named Bhagwan Shree
Rajneesh. The group maintained a compound in Wasco County, Oregon. The
Rajneeshee were interested in gaining control of one of the open seats
on the local circuit court. As such, a conspiracy was hatched to
incapacitate the voters in The Dalles, Oregon, who made up the largest
block of voters in the upcoming election. To this end, salad bars in 10
restaurants were contaminated with Salmonella spores, and two county
commissioners had their drinking water contaminated.
This was the first ever bio attack on the US, and remains the
largest. Rajneesh was never prosecuted for the attack, but was
eventually deported to India on other grounds.
7. Mid-Air Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
Fatalities: 270; Injuries 12
Planes are a prime target for terrorist. This fact was made
shockingly clear on December 21, 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 from
Heathrow to JFK exploded in mid-air over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland.
The destruction of the plane was complete; all passengers and crew
were killed. Additionally, falling debris from the explosion struck
homes in Lockerbee and caused injuries to a number of residents. A
number of extremist groups claimed responsibility, and investigators
quickly determined that a bomb did indeed cause the explosion. It was
believed that the attack was in response to the shooting down of Iran
flight 655 in July of that year.
As the investigation continued, officials came to believe that the
attack was sanctioned by the Libyan government. A Libyan national,
Abdul-Basit al Megrahi, was eventually apprehended, charged and found
guilty in connection with the attack. In 2003, Libya admitted
responsibility for the attack (but still displayed no guilt).
6. Bombing of Marine Barracks
Fatalities: 301; Injuries: 161
For decades, the Middle East has been a hot bed for political unrest.
Such was the case in the early-1980’s, when the United Nations
established a peacekeeping force in Lebanon, in an attempt to settle
unrest in the area. It didn’t work. On October 23, 1983, two suicide
truck bombs breached the security perimeter of the UN compound that was
housing U.S. Marines
and French Paratroopers. Combined, the truck bombs carried 12,000
pounds of TNT. The resulting explosion demolished the compound. 241
U.S. servicemen (220 of them Marines) were killed.
A group called The Islamic Jihad (suspected of being a front for the
organization Hezbollah) claimed responsibility, citing America’s
unwanted presence in the area. As a result of the bombing, the UN soon
pulled its peacekeeping forces out of the area. The attack represented
the largest, and deadliest, one-day death toll for the Marines since the
battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
5. Truck Bombing of U.S. Embassies
Fatalities: 303; Injuries: 4,954
Prior to 9/11, acts of terror against the U.S. centered largely on
targets on foreign soil. Such was the case with the 1998 bombings of
the U. S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Truck bombs, carrying up to 17 tons of high explosives, were detonated
within minutes of each other at the site of each embassy. While the
intended targets were American property and personnel, the vast majority
of the casualties were indigenous civilians. Twelve Americans were
killed, and both embassies were heavily damaged. So-called collateral
damage was widespread in the neighborhoods adjacent to the embassies,
and several thousands of civilians were injured or killed. The attack was linked to an extremist group call The Egyptian
Islamic Jihad (EIJ). The group claimed it was retaliating for American
involvement concerning the torture and extradition of four members of
the EIJ. Both Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri came to American
attention as a result of the attack.
4. Beslan Massacre
Fatalities: 366; Injuries: 747
Acts of terror are not confined to the United States. Terrorism is a
worldwide problem, as our number four entry illustrates. On September
1, 2004, armed Ingush and Chechen insurgents seized control of School
Number One in Beslan, Russia.
The insurgents held 1,100 hostages (of which 777 were children) and
demanded an end to ongoing Chechen military dispute between Chechnya and
Russia.
By the 3rd day of the siege, Russian officials decided to act, and
assaulted the school with tanks, heavy weapons and military troops. An
intense gun battle ensued that resulted in 30 insurgents killed.
Unfortunately, 334 hostages were also killed (of which 186 were
children). The backlash of the disastrous assault by Russian forces led
to a number of policy changes, as well as widespread international
criticism.
3. Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing
Fatalities: 169; Injuries: 675
While acts of terror seem to be carried out primarily by religious
extremists, this wasn’t the case with the number three entry on our
list. On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh exploded a truck bomb that he
positioned in front of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. The bomb itself was homemade, using chemical
ingredients that were readily attainable. The resulting explosion tore
into the Federal building, demolishing much of it and causing
widespread damage to the surrounding area.
Damages, in fact, totaled more than $652 million. Timothy McVeigh,
and co-conspirator Terry Nichols, were quickly linked, charged and
convicted for the attack. The public soon became aware of the
home-grown terrorism. McVeigh, a militia sympathizer, espoused a hatred
of the US government as his motivation. McVeigh was sentenced to death
by lethal injection and Nichols was given life without parole for their
roles in the attack. Prior to 9/11, this attack was the deadliest act
of terrorism on American soil.
2. 1st World Trade Center Bombing
Fatalities: 6; Injuries: 1,040
While the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center was devastating, it
was not the first attempt to bring the two towers down. On February 26,
1993, a yellow Ryder moving van was driven into the World Trade
Center’s public parking garage in the North Tower. Several minutes
later, 1500 pounds of nitrate-hydrogen gas exploded, punching a hole 98 feet wide through four levels of concrete.
The plan was carried out by a group that called itself The Liberation
Army, 5th Battalion. This is believed to be a front, however, as this
attack was financed by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was the primary
planner for the 9/11 attack. The attackers hoped to collapse the North
Tower and have it crash into the South Tower, causing thousands of
deaths. Six men were eventually charged with, and convicted of, the
bombing.
1. 9/11 Attack
Fatalities: 2,993; Injuries: 8,900
Any discussion concerning acts of terror has to begin with the
September 11, 2001 attack. By any measure, it was the most brazen and
deadliest terrorist attack in recorded history. Initiated by an
extremist organization named Al Qaeda, and its leader Osama bin Laden,
the attack led to America’s current War On Terror.
The attack itself was a coordinated affair: nineteen members of Al
Qaeda managed to hijack four airliners. Two of these planes were
crashed into New York City’s World Trade Center. A third plane was
crushed into the Pentagon in Washington DC. The fourth plane, which is
believed to have been headed for targets in Washington DC as well,
crashed into a field in Summerset County, Pennsylvania, after passengers
attempted to regain control of the plane from the hijackers.
The damage was horrific. Both World Trade Center towers were
demolished – literally crashing to the ground. The Pentagon was heavily
damaged as well. 9/11 is the most lethal attack carried out against
the US, and continues to have ramifications in the nation’s foreign and domestic policies.
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