1978 Orly Airport attack

The 1978 Orly Airport attack was a shoot-out that took place on 20 May 1978 in the Paris Orly Airport, France as three terrorists armed with submachine guns opened fire at the El Al boarding gate.[1][2][3] The terrorists were also reportedly carrying grenades and plastic explosives in the shoot-out that lasted for 25 minutes.[4] Two people including one police officer were killed before the three terrorists were shot and killed by French police and Israeli security guards.[1][2][3] Five people waiting to board a nearby Iberia flight to Malaga were wounded.[5] The airport was evacuated for about three hours after the attack.[5] According to Israeli sources the group behind the attack was a unit headed by Abu Nidal which cooperated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).[5]

1978 Orly Airport attack
1978 Orly Airport attack is located in Île-de-France (region)
1978 Orly Airport attack
The attack site
LocationOrly Airport, Paris, France
Coordinates48.7233°N 2.3794°E / 48.7233; 2.3794
Date20 May 1978 (1978-05-20)
c. 3:00 pm
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths2 civilians (+3 attackers)
Injured5
PerpetratorsPalestinian nationalists

References

  1. "Terrorist Incidents against Jewish Communities and Israeli Citizens Abroad, 1968-2003". International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. 20 December 2003. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  2. Curtis, Michael (1986). The Middle East: A Reader. Transaction Publishers. p. 279. ISBN 9781412837798.
  3. Rubin, Barry; Rubin, Judith Colp (2015). Chronologies of Modern Terrorism. Routledge. p. 193. ISBN 9781317474654.
  4. "3 Terrorists Killed In Attack In Paris On El Al Passengers". The New York Times. 21 May 1978.
  5. "Passengers Onel Al Flight Credit Israeli Security Guards for Thwarting Terrorist Attack on Plane Pas". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 22 May 1978.
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