[SANITIZED]WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM JANUARY 1976 - 1976/01/06

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02060242
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
119
Document Creation Date: 
April 3, 2019
Document Release Date: 
April 12, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 6, 1976
File: 
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 -Secar 3.5(c) EO 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs EO 13526 3.5(c) Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 6 January 1976 cret 20 0 6 JAN 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS 3.5(c) 6 January 1976 Argentine Army Wins Victory Over ERP (Page 7) Montonero Leader Disappears (Page 9) Mercedes Benz Executive Freed in Argentina (Page ) SEQR '1�E Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) .NR NR 06 JAN 1976 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.3(b)(1) 3.3(b)(1) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 -sEetter Argentine Army Wins Victory Over ERP 3.5(c) On 23 December the People's Revolutionary Army attacked the Domingo Viejobueno Arsenal Battalion at Monte .Chingolo in Buenos Aires Province and were soundly defeated by the Argen- tine military. The attack was carried out by approximately 130 individuals, and ERP casualty estimates range between 55 and 100. two of Santucho's close relatives plus the chief accountant of the ERP and the director of the ERP Military training school were slain in the attack. The ERP attack was well planned and included diversionary attacks against military installations in La Plata as well as local police stations. The combined response of the military services and police was almost immediate, and the end result was that the bulk of the poorly armed ERP forces was trapped. It is believed that Argentine army intelligence had advance notice that the attack would occur and thus laid a trap for the ERP. the authorities captured two ERP members who carried documents relating to the Domingo Viejobueno battalion several weeks before the attack. The chiefs of the operations and logistic sections of the ERP general command were captured in mid-December, and the logis- tics chief admitted under interrogation that the ERP was short of weapons. It was also reported that the Montoneros gave the ERP logistical assistance, but the exact role of the Montoneros in the operation has yet to be determined. The meaning of this defeat for the ERP is not precisely clear. One fact that emerged from the battle was that most of the ERP casualties were between 17 and 24 years old, and 30 percent of them were women. This could mean that the ERP is scraping the bottom of the barrel for recruits or it could also mean that the attack was intended as a training mission. One thing that is clear is that the ERP, at least in Buenos Aires Province, is short of weapons. During the last part of December, Buenos Aires police uncovered an ERP small-arms firing range and captured a number of small arms plus ammunition. This loss may account for the desperation of the ERP attempt. The de- feat at Monte Chingolo was a loss in prestige for the ERP. The large amount of casualties could have an adverse effect on the -15E-eRET Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 7 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) ERP ERP recruitment program. The ERP will probably be forced back into smaller scale operations such as kidnapping and assassi- nation against lower risk targets. It is also Ipossible that the ERP may attempt to stage a spectacular act to restore its sagging prestige, and targets for such an operation could in- clude foreign diplomats. It is a different matter for the Argentin( armed forces. Their success at Monte Chingolo may be a sign that they have been able to overcome bureaucratic inefficienc: , poor organiza- tion and lack of cooperation and thus have fin lly found the winning combination. If the armed forces continue to demon- strate their new found efficiency in subsequent operations, particularly if they take an active offensive role in counter- terrorist operations, the terrorists in Argentina could be coming on hard times. 3.5(c) 8 ..SECIffr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 SEGRer Montonero Leader Disappears 3.5(c) On 29 December Roberto Quieto, a leader of the Montoneros, was seized at a public beach in suburban Buenos Aires by a group of heavily armed men whose leader identified himself as a federal police officer. According to press reports, his wife said Quieto was suddenly surrounded by the men as he lay sunbathing. The men forced the other sunbathers to lie down with their hands behind their heads, and then led Quieto, who was clad only in bathing trunks, off to a car. As his captors drove away they fired shots in the air. Quieto's lawyers have presented habeas corpus petitions to the authorities, asking that the police disclose where Quieto is being held. Both federal and provincial police deny they have Quieto in custody, and this raises the distinct possibil- ity that Quieto may have been abducted by a right-wing death squad. Under the current state of emergency in Argentina, Quieto could be held for an indefinite period of time by the authorities without being formally charged. The Montoneros have issued a communique denouncing Quieto's disappearance, which would seemingly discredit the theory that he had been abducted by the Montoneros because of an internal dispute. Quieto, a Marxist-Leninist lawyer, first became involved in terrorism in 1970 when he formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). The Montoneros and the FAR joined forces in October 1973. Quieto's followers are considered to be more Marxist than Peronist and are more violence-prone than other elements of the Montoneros. Quieto is believed to be one of the key organizers of Montonero terrorist activity. Because of Quieto's importance to the Montonero cause, and because he has a large group of violence-prone followers, it is possible that the Montoneros may attempt to abduct a high Argentine official or a foreign diplomat to exchange for Quieto. The U.S. Embassy commented that most observers feel Quieto was abducted by right wingers and thus is probably already dead. This could still lead to a terrorist act, as the Montoneros might carry out an abduction, as they did in the Egan case, in order to clarify the status not only of Quieto, but of other terrorists who have been arrested during the last few weeks. 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 9 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 -SK-RET 3.5(c) Mercedes Benz Executive Freed in Argentina On 24 December Franz Metz, the production manager of the Mercedes Benz subsidiary in Argentina who was ,kidnapped on 24 October during a labor dispute, was set free by his Montonero 12 06 JAN 1976 sEezEr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) captors for a large but undisclosed amount of ransom. After his release, Metz returned to West Germany. (The kidnapping was reported in the 28 October issue.) As part of the ransom, Mercedes- Benz made labor concessions at the local subsidiary and also paid for advertisements in the world press which spelled out the Montonero position and which also said that Argentina was heading towarda civil war. The Montoneros' advertisement appeared in newspapers in Europe, Latin America and North America, including the 24 December issue of The Washington Post. (UNCLASSIFIED) _sEeitEr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 13 06 JAN 1976 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 002060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 002060242 V' NOV DEC A- 1 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Sec 3.5(c) 13 January 1976 ret 95 JAN 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 SeeRE7 3.5(c) WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS Articles: 13 January 1976 Quiet� Questioned by Argentine Authorities (Page 5) _,SE,GREr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.3(b)(1) .3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 �Watt 3.5(c) Quieto Questioned by Argentine Authorities Montonero leader Roberto Quieto was indeed arrested by Argentine authorities on 28 December 1975. The Argentine government considers Quieto's capture to be highly sensitive and the matter has been tightly held in official circles. Quieto has cooperated with his captors and provided information which led to the identification and seizure of the Montoneros' largest and most important arms cache, which was located in a warehouse in suburban Buenos Aires. The arms cache included 150 Argentine submachine guns, five heavy machine guns, approxi- mately 100 handguns, three million rounds of small arms ammuni- tion, kits for cleaning and maintaining small arms, Montonero uniforms and field manuals providing instruction on small arms handling, explosives and guerrilla tactics. Quieto also discussed the Montoneros in general. He stated that he is the Montonero political chief while Mario Firmenich, the Montonero commander, is the chief of the military apparatus and maintains his headquarters in Cordoba. Quieto claimed that the Montoneros have between seven thousand and ten thousand active members and about three hundred thousand supporters and that the organization maintains a Swiss bank account containing $150 million with an additional $50 million distributed through- out Argentina. (Comment: In 1974, the number of Mcntoneros was estimated at fifteen thousand with two thousand five hundred actual combatants. Considering that the Montoneros have been growing, the seven to ten thousand, figure may be accurate. The three hundred thousand figure probably includes the element of the population that sympathizes with the Montoneros but is not actually involved with the organization. It is known that the Montoneros possess considerable amounts of money and are be- lieved to have deposited some in Switzerland. There is no way of estimating, however, whether Quieto's figures are correct.) Quieto further stated that as of the time of his capture, the Montoneros had no plans to kidnap or assassinate anyone. He said that the Montoneros principal effort is being directed toward political organization and is being aimed at the 1976 presidential elections. If their candidate loses, then the Montoneros will attempt to provoke a military coup which they believe will result in the polarization of the population, with 3.5(c) Approved Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 5 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 .SECTUrr 3.5(c) the Peronists joining the Montoneros. Quiet� said that the Montoneros have members and contacts throughout the government and the military and that these contacts furnish the organiza- tion with information. Finally, Quieto stated that the ties between the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP) and the Montoneros are minor and that the ERP is portraying a stronger relationship between the Mon- toneros and the ERP than is actually the case, in order to build the ERP's image, lure recruits from the Montoneros and to con- fuse the authorities. He also stated that the Montoneros are not involved in the Revolutionary Coordinating Junta (JCR). While there is no evidence of Montonero involvement in the ERP- backed JCR, Quiet� may be generally down-playing the Montoneros' relationship with the ERP, believing that to strongly link the two would not only further incriminate him, but would also detract from the Montoneros image of itself as a nationalistic political entity. 3.5(c) 6 1 3 JAN 147s Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 20 January January 1976 3.5(c) 3.5(c) pdIt 9 5 20 JAN 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 SEMI- 3.5(c) TAB C - Potential Terrorist Targets in the U.S. and Abroad 20 JAN 1576 sEevEr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR 3 0 oic aU NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 --SEC�Rer� Target: U.S. Personnel Place: Argentina, Buenos Aires Date: Current NR * * 3.5(c) The U.S. official community in Buenos Aires believes that the Montoneros might try to kidnap someone of international importance in an effort to force the Argentine government to release Roberto Quieto, a prominent Mbntonero leader re- cently arrested. There is a report that the Montoneros are planning a major operation, probably against an Argentine military unit. They might decide, howeVer, that they would gain more leverage by 3.5(c) seizing a folleign diplomat. C- 2 jAN 19/6 -SeeRET� Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism _Surer 27 January 1976 Secfet 95 27 WIN 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 SEC WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS 3.5(c) 27 January 1976 NR TAB A - Chronology of Significant International Terrorist Acts _sr-r�rerFr Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 27 JAN 1975 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 SEREr 3.5(c) TAB C - Potential Terrorist Targets in the U.S. and Abroad 2'? JAN 1976 -SECO:r Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Date: Place: Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 -sEeRET NR 15 January 1976 Argentina, Cordoba 3.5(c) British Cultural Institute Bombed The British Cultural Insti- tute in Cordoba was bombed on 15 January. There was property damage but no one was injured. The blast was reportedly the work of na- tionalists protesting against Britain's refusal to recog- nize Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. 3.5(c) A-2 ,1 1916 _SgatiT 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 .SE-eltrr 3.5(c) Target: U.S. Personnel Place: Argentina, Buenos Aires Date: C-2 Current 3.3(b)(1) The U.S. official community in Buenos Aires believes that the Montoneros might try to kidnap someone of international importance in an effort to force the Argentine government to release Roberto Quieto, prominent Montonero leader cently arrested. the Montoneros are planning a major operation, probably against an Argentine military unit. They might decide, however, that they would gain more leverage by seizing a foreign diplomat. a re- -sEeftsr- Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 3.5(c) 3.3(b)(1) 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242 Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 CO2060242