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Wayzata World Factbook 1996
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The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso
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terror
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raf
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Red Army Faction (RAF)
Description
The small and disciplined RAF is the successor to the Baader-Meinhof Gang,
which originated in the student protest movement in the 1960s. Ideology is
an obscure mix of Marxism and Maoism; committed to armed struggle. organized
into hardcore cadres that carry out terrorist attacks and a network of
supporters who provide logistic and propaganda support. Has survived
despite numerous arrests of top leaders over the years.
Activities
Bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and robberies. With decline of world
communism, has had trouble recruiting replacements for jailed members. Now
concentrating on domestic targets, particularly officials involved in German
or European unification and German security and justice officials. Carried
out one operation in 1993, destroying a new prison with 600 pounds of
commercial explosives. Police shootout with two members ended in death of
GSG-9 officer and group member Wolfgang Grams. Group temporarily gaivanized
afterward. RAF has targeted US and NATO facilities in the past. During
Gulf war, RAF shot up US Embassy in Bonn with assault rifle rounds. There
were no casualties, however.
Strength
Ten to 20, plus several hundred supporters.
Location/Area of Operations
Germany.
External Aid
Self-sustaining, but during Baader-Meinhof period received support from
Middle Eastern terrorists. East Germany gave logistic support, sanctuary,
and training during the 1980s.
2 September 1993
Italy
Three terrorists threw a handgrenade over the fence and also fired shots at
the U.S. Air Force Base at Aviano. The Red Brigades terrorist group later
claimed responsibility.
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SELECTED INCIDENT CHRONOLOGY
MAY, 1972:
CARRIED OUT SIX SEPARATE BOMBING ATTACKS, KILLING ONE AND INJURING
THIRTEEN, AT A U.S. OFFICERS CLUB IN FRANKFURT; BOMBED THE
VEHICLE OF GERMAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BUDDENBURG, SERIOUSLY
INJURING HIS WIFE; AND KILLED THREE AND WOUNDED FIVE IN A BLAST AT
THE U.S. ARMY EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS IN HEIDELBERG.
NOVEMBER, 1974:
MURDERED GERMAN SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT GUENTHER VON DRENKMANN.
FEBRUARY, 1975:
KIDNAPPED TWO LEADING GERMAN POLITICIANS TO FORCE THE RELEASE OF
SIX IMPRISONED TERRORISTS.
APRIL, 1977:
AMBUSHED AND MURDERED GERMAN FEBERAL PROSECUTOR SIEGFRIED BUBACK,
HIS CHAUFFEUR, AND A POLICE BODYGUARD.
SEPTEMBER, 1977:
KIDNAPPED GERMAN BUSINESSMAN HANNS-MARTIN SCHLEYER AND KILLED HIS
CHAUFFEUR AND THREE POLICE GUARDS. WHILE THE RAF WAS HOLDING
SCHLEYER, THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE
HIJACKED A LUFTHANSA AIRCRAFT IN A SUPPORTING OPERATION. AFTER
GERMAN COUNTER TERRORIST FORCES SUCCESSFULLY FOILED THE HIJACKING
AT MOGADISHU, SOMALIA, THE RAF MURDERED SCHLEYER.
JUNE, 1979:
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF NATO COMMANDER GENERAL ALEXANDER HAIG,
WITH A BOMB CONCEALED UNDER A BRIDGE IN OBOURG, BELGIUM. THE BOMB
EXPLODED BETWEEN GENERAL HAIG'S CAR AND AN ESCORT VEHICLE, WOUNDING
TWO GUARDS.
AUGUST, 1981:
BOMBED THE U.S. AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN RAMSTEIN, INJURING 18
AMERICANS AND TWO GERMANS.
SEPTEMBER, 1981:
FIRED TWO RPG-7 GRENADES AT U.S. ARMY EUROPEAN COMMANDING GENERAL
KROESSEN'S CAR, SLIGHTLY INJURING THE GENERAL AND HIS WIFE.
DECEMBER, 1984:
BOMBED THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN BONN AND ATTEMPTED TO BOMB THE NATO
SCHOOL IN OBERAMMERGAU.
JANUARY, 1985:
FIREBOMBED THE HOME OF THE U.S. CONSUL GENERAL IN FRANKFURT AND THE
U.S. AIRFIELD AT HEIDELBERG. ALSO FIREBOMBED A NUMBER OF WEST
GERMAN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES THROUGHOUT GERMANY.
FEBRUARY, 1985:
INVADED THE HOME OF WEST GERMAN BUSINESSMAN ERNST ZIMMERMANN AND
SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD.
MARCH, 1985:
INJURED NINE WITH A BOMB BLAST AT A DEPARTMENT STORE IN DORTMUND.
AUGUST, 1985:
DETONATED A CAR BOMB AT THE RHEIN MAIN AIR BASE, KILLING TWO AND
INJURING SEVENTEEN. THE TERRORISTS KILLED AN OFF DUTY U.S.
SERVICEMAN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BOMBING AND USED HIS MILITARY
IDENTIFICATION TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BASE.
APRIL, 1986:
BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR BOMBING THE NATO PIPELINE NEAR VOLLERSODE.
MAY, 1986:
SEVERELY DAMAGED A U.S. MILITARY FUEL PUMPING STATION AND
DESTROYED TWO TRUCKS WITH A BOMB THAT ALSO IGNITED OVER 1,000
GALLONS OF FUEL.
JULY, 1986:
MURDERED KARL-HEINZ BECKURTS, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OF THE SIEMENS
ELECTRONICS COMPANY, AND HIS CHAUFFEUR, WITH A REMOTELY DETONATED
BOMB. THE RAF CLAIMED THAT IT HAD CARRIED OUT THE OPERATION
BECAUSE OF BECKURTS' ADVOCACY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY AND HIS RESEARCH
PARTICIPATION IN THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI) PROJECT.
OCTOBER, 1986:
MURDERED GEROLD VON BRAUNMUEHL, HEAD OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S
POLITICAL DEPARTMENT. HE WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS HOME IN BONN.
SEPTEMBER, 1988:
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF WEST GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER.
NOVEMBER, 1989:
ALFRED HERRHAUSEN, DIRECTOR OF THE DEUTSCHE BANK, WEST
GERMANY'S LARGEST BANK, MURDERED WHEN THE RAF DETONATED A ROAD SIDE
BOMB AS THE VICTIM'S CAR PASSED.
JULY, 1990:
ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE AN OFFICIAL OF THE GERMAN MINISTRY OF
THE INTERIOR.
FEBRUARY, 1991:
FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS AT THE COMPOUND OF THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BONN.
APRIL, 1991:
ASSASSINATED DETLEV ROHWEDDER, THE CHIEF OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING-OFF STATE OWNED PROPERTY IN THE
FORMER GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (EAST GERMANY).
JULY, 1991:
CONDUCTED AN ARSON ATTACK ON A RENAULT DELIVERY FACILITY IN
BRUEHL (NEAR COLOGNE).
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THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS DERIVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE, AND PUBLIC MEDIA SOURCE DOCUMENTS.