Besançon courthouse attack
A terrorist attack targeted the Besançon courthouse on 9 May 1970. It was perpetrated with a bomb by two men from OAS and UDR movements, in a context of resurgence of far-right violence in France.
Besançon courthouse attack | |
---|---|
![]() The Besançon courthouse, in 2021. | |
![]() Location of Besançon, in France. | |
Location | Besançon, France. |
Coordinates | 47.2374843°N 6.0236485°E. |
Date | 9 May 1970 10:30 pm. (Paris) |
Weapons | IED. |
Deaths | 0. |
Injured | 0. |
Perpetrator | Right-wing extremists. |
No. of participants | Two. |
Motive | Political terrorism. |
Attack
On 9 May 1970, at 10:30 pm, the place du Huit-Septembre (September 8 Square) is shaken by an explosion.[1] The Besançon courthouse was just attacked[2][3] with a bomb containing explosives and scrap metal.[1] Damage is impressive but limited : only the porch, the bay windows, and the salle des pas perdus (hall of lost steps), partly classifieds, are seriously affected.[1] A couple and their baby narrowly escaped of the impact, but no one injuries are deplored.[1] The mayor, the socialist Jean Minjoz, immediately condemns this act, while the investigation begins.[1] Witnesses say they saw a man throw a device through, before escaping in a car's of an accomplice.[1] At first the attack was attributed to the left[3][4][5] but two individuals were finally arrested on 14 May with the number of their a registration plate.[1] They was former soldiers, workers at the Rhodiaceta factory, one was a member of the OAS and the other a member of the UDR[3][6][4][7][8] acting for defiant motives possibly related to power through the SAC.[9][10][2] The suspects admit the facts, while weapons and ammunition are found.[1]
References
- Willy Graff for L'Est Républicain, April 6, 2021 : « Savez-vous que Besançon a été frappé d’un attentat en 1970 ? ».
- Christian Bougeard, René Pleven - Un Français libre en politique, 1994, Presses universitaires de Rennes, 473 pages, ISBN 9782868471291, page 310.
- Hervé Hamon et Patrick Rotman, Les années de poudre - Volume 2, Auguste 29, 2016, Éditions du Seuil, 704 pages, ISBN 9782021342468.
- Dominique Lejeune, La peur du rouge en France - Des partageux aux gauchistes, 2003, Belin, 303 pages, ISBN 9782701132419, page 248.
- Le nouvel observateur, 1974, page 28.
- L'Année politique, économique, sociale et diplomatique en France, 1970, Éditions du Grand Siècle, page 31.
- Gérard Vincent and Véronique Aubert, Les Français, 1945-1975 - chronologie et structures d'une société, 1977, Masson, 383 pages, ISBN 978-2-225-82120-2, page 200.
- Le Monde, May 16, 1970, « Besançon : les deux auteurs de l'attentat contre le palais de justice n'étaient pas des gauchistes »
- Sébastien Laurent, Politiques du renseignement, 2009, Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 355 pages, ISBN 9782867815485, page 132.
- Bernard Thomas, Les provocations policières, 1972, Fayard, 508 pages, page 385.