WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM APRIL 1976[SANITIZED] - 1976/04/06

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Keywords: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02630604
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
101
Document Creation Date: 
April 3, 2019
Document Release Date: 
April 12, 2019
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Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 6, 1976
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Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) 6 April 1976 _Setr4. 9 5 6 APR 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 SfieRET WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS 3.5(c) 6 April 1976 TAB B - Terrorist Threats and Plans 3.5(c) ssertsr" Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) NR NR 6 A7R 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 002630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 002630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 4�FerFr-- 3.5(c) Targets: U.S. EMBASSY Place: Argentina Date: April 1976 ** The "Red Brigade of Workers Power" is planning a terrorist campaign beginning 2 April against several targets, one of which is the U.S. mission in Argentina (Comment: Little is known about the above group, but it is believed to have killed some Buenos Aires policemen in recent days.) B-I- 2 3.5(c) stacker� S APR 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR 3.3(b)(1) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 ,sriarr 3.5(c) Target: U.S. CITIZEN Place: Date: Argentina, Cordoba Late April 1976 * * The mother of a U.S. citizen residing in Cordoba received an extortion threat on 26 January when an unidentified caller threatened that her daughter would be killed if he were not paid $50,000 by 24 April. The mother has only recently advised authorities in the U.S. of this threat. The State Department considers this a serious threat and has informed the embassy in Buenos Aires. 3.5(c) .,SfieftE'r Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) B-I -3 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 13 April 1976 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 'Ater 95 1.3 APR 19L) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Noire' Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 sEeREr WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS 3.5(c) 13 April 1976 JCR Policy Meeting Interrupted by Argentine Police Raid (Page 4) Paraguay Arrests Terrorist Suspects Returning from Argentina (Page 6) 3.5(c) .5fieltfr Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR NR 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 _sEeizvt` 3.5(c) JCR Policy Meeting Interrupted By Argentine Police Raid On 29 March the Argentine federal police conducted a raid on an estate in Moreno, Buenos Aires province, and interrupted a top-level policy conference of the Revolu- tionary Coordinating Junta (JCR). The conference, which began on 27 March and was scheduled to end on 30 or 31 March, included representatives of JCR member organizations-- the Argentine People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), the Chilean Movement of the Revolutionary left (MIR), the Bolivian National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Uruguayan National Liberation Movement/Tupamaros (MLN/T). The conference was conducted without the prior know- ledge of the owner of the estate. When he became aware of the meetings he informed the federal police. On 29 March the police sent a group of plainclothed officer's to inves- tigate. As the federal and local police approached the estate, the insurgents opened fire. While the police a- waited reinforcements from the police and army, at least six ERP members escaped, including ERP leader Mario, Roberto Santucho and Juan Mangini, ERP intelligence chief in Tucu- man. Seven to eleven of the participants were killed during the exchange of gunfire, and eleven ERP members were cap- tured. Representatives from the Chilean MIR, Bolivian ELN and the Uruguayan MLN/T also escaped. Based on information provided by the prisoners and the captured documents, the Argentine authorities learned that a principle topic of discussion was the strategy which should be adopted by the ERP and the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT), the political arm of the ERP, in confronting the new military government in Argentina. Of particular concern was the role the ERP and PRT should assume in future activities within the Argen- tine labor sector. Among the captured documents was a paper presented by the Chilean MIR representative. The intact portion of the document focuses on the importance of learning From past experiences and mistakes of the various JCR member organiza- tions. The MIR admitted that it had erred in anticipating a strong popular resistance to the military regime following the overthrow of President Salvador Allende, and that it under-evaluated weaknesses within its own organization, which were revealed each time the MIR attempted to take the initiative in military and political spheres against the Chilean government. According to the captured document, 4 -7 -SECTIrr Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 FT 3.5(c) the MIR already has begun amore intensive effort to work through legal and semi-legal structures, and already has noted some progress in the last few months. No documents were available concerning the progress or future plans of the other JCR member organization. 3.5(c) 3.5(c) -SECIZrr Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Paraguay Paraguay Arrests Terrorist Suspects Returnina from Argentina In early April Paraguayan security officers arrested, more than 70 persons suspected of receiving terrorist train- ing in Argentina, according to the U.S. embassy in Asuncion. Those arrested included five Argentinians and one Uruguayan, as well as Paraguayan citizens. The round-up began when a known Paraguayan Communist was apprehended on 3 April as he attempted to enter Paraguay from Argentina. He provided information that led to other arrests. The authorities learned from these first prisoners that some 200 Paraguayan terrorists were in the process of moving back to Paraguay, most of them leaving Argentina in the wake of the recent coup there. They were said to be organized into several cells of around 20 to 25 persons each. Some of the arrests involved shoot-outs, and at least one terrorist leader and a policeman were killed. The Ministry of Interior released a press statement on 7 April which claimed that the terrorists were members of the "Organizacion Politica Militar," linked to extremist groups in Argentina. The leaders were identified as Juan Carlos DaCosta del Castillo, described as a university agitator, who was killed in a shoot-out with the police, and Miguel Sanmarti Garcia, a Spanish Jesuit priest. According to other embassy information, Sanmarti was expelled from Paraguay in 1974 and is believed to be in Barcelona, Spain, although he may have returned to Paraguay. This group apparently was related, through support and training by the Argentine People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), to a terrorist cell discovered in Asuncion in November 1974, which re- portedly had planned to assassinate President Stroessner conduct other terrorist operations. 3.5(c) According to an Interior official, the returning terror- ists were still in an organizational phase and had not developed specific plans for terrorist activity in Paraguay; they simply had to get out of Argentina. This official said the police seized quantities of modern small arms and bales of Marxist/Maoist publications. and 6 ...sEetFr 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 -SECTUrr 3.5(c) A Paraguayan military intelligence official told several foreign military attaches that those arrested were mostly students, some from "good families," who had been studying at the Northeastern University in Corrientes, Argentina. They were not members of the ERP but had been trained and supported by it. He claimed that these returning students were prepared to begin extensive operations in April to obtain money and weapons by robbing banks, kidnapping, breaking into homes where weapons could be found, and at- tacking police stations to seize weapons. As this statement is not consistent with the information provided to the embassy by the Interior official, the military official may have exaggerated the danger somewhat when briefing the foreign attaches. According to the embassy, Paraguayan authorities have assigned special guards to a number of foreign diplomatic missions, ostensibly for their protection. There is wide- spread belief in the diplomatic community, however, that these guards have been assigned primarily to prevent ftwi- tives from seeking diplomatic asylum. 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) 7 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 sEerer 3.5(c) Target: U.S. CITIZEN Place: Argentina, Cordoba Date: Late April 1976 The mother of a U.S. citizen residing in Cordoba received an extortion threat on 26 January when an unidentified caller threatened that her daughter would be killed if he were not paid $50,000 by 24 A ril. NR 3.5(c) NR B-I-2 ,sE.ego Approved for i-elease: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) 20 April 1976 3.5(c) 20 APR 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 ScT I. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Western Hemisphere, Including the United States Target: U.S. CITIZEN Place: Argentina, Cordoba Date: Target: Place: Date: Late April 1976 U.S. EMBASSY Argentina April 1976 3.5(c) The mother of a U.S. citizen residing in Cordoba received an extortion threat on 26 January when an unidentified caller threatened that her daughter would be killed if he were not paid $50,000 by 24 April./ The "Red Brigade of Workers Power" is planning a terrorist campaign beginning 2 April against several targets, one of which is the U.S. mission in Argentina. 3.5(c) 3.5(c) * * Indicates * Indicates 3.5(c)'' a new threat reported for the first time. a revision of a threat reported in previous issues. 9.ft LIPQ Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) B-I-1 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Weekly Situation Report on International Terrorism 3.5(c) 27 April 1976 27 APR 1976 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 SEC-Rff WEEKLY SITUATION REPORT CONTENTS Articles: Current Trends in Argentine Terrorism (Page 1) 3.5(c) 27 April 1976 TAB B - Terrorist Threats and Plans 3.5(c) Approved for for Refels'asr 2011}10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 .SgeftEr ARTICLES Currpnt Trends in Argentine Terrorism 3.5(c) The military take-over in Argentina has not resulted in a decline in terrorist activity. Most observers on the scene feel that after an initial drop-off following the coup, terrorist operations have once again reached the precoup level. Most of the activity has centered around shoot-outs between the terrorists and the police and mili- tary. The terrorists are also conducting an assassination campaign which is primarily directed against police, security and military officials, although some businessmen have been targets as well. The attacks against businessmen differ from previous campaigns in that the terrorists are currently murdering the businessmen rather than kidnapping them for ransom. For example, on 13 April, the two-man bodyguard team for the Argentine administrative manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was ambushed and killed by the Montoneros while the bodyguards waited to escort their boss to work. On 14 April, the Argentine marketing manager for the Chrysler Corporation was machine-gunned to death when he answered his door. Attacks on businessmen have not been confined to foreign targets, so it does not appear that this campaign is directed specifically against foreign businesses. Right now, the terrorists are engaging in high visibil- ity, low risk, target of opportunity operations. Isolated police units, small military units and bodyguards would fall into this category. By attacking relatively soft targets spread over a large area, the terrorists hope to accomplish three things. First of all, the terrorists wish to demon- strate to their followers that they can still operate despite the military take-over. This will aid their recruiting efforts. Secondly, these operations are useful training exercises. Thirdly and most importantly, the terrorists hope to create the illusion that the instability in Argentina is greater than it really is, and thus provoke the military into taking harsh repressive measures, thereby alienating the Argentine population. 3.5(c) SEC-Rfr Approved for Re-lea; 2'018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 latEr 3.5(c) For the past two years, the main objective of the major Argentine terrorist organizations has been to provoke a military coup. Now that the coup has taken place, the ter- rorists' main aim is to provoke harsh repression, polarize the population and thus set the stage for revolution and civil war, which the terrorists theorize they will win. Further, the terrorists can widen their base of international support if they can equate the actions of the Argentine junta with the actions of the Chilean junta and thus score propaganda points for their cause by utilizing the theme that the military government is suppressing human rights. What all this means for the near future is hard to say. If their current provocation campaign does not succeed, the terrorists may start to concentrate on more formal operations against higher-level, difficult targets such as government officials or foreign diplomats; These operations could be either assassinations �or kidnappings. The probability of a major kidnapping operation will become greater if the govern- ment captures key terrorist leaders. Foreign businesses may also become prime terrorists begin to run low on money. targets if the 3.3(b)(1) the Montoneros are considering kidnapping executives of large and wealthy firms in order to obtain funds. It is also possible that by indiscriminately murdering businessmen, the terrorists are planning to start an extortion campaign, a tactic which they used quite successfully in 1973, and which required less preparation than a kidnapping operation. Finally all the major terrorist organizations are attempting to gain recruits among the labor unions. There- fore any firm, foreign or domestic, that is experiencing labor troubles could become a prime target for a terrorist attack. 2 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 _Sge-REr 3.5(c) I. Terrorist Threats and Plans: Western Hemisphere, Including the United States Target: Business Executives Place: Argentina Date: Unknown Target: U.S. CITIZEN Place: Argentina, Cordoba Date: Late April 1976 Target: Place: Date: U.S. EMBASSY Argentina April 1976 ** The Montoneros plan to renew operations to kidnap executives 3.3(b)(1) of large and wealthy firms in order to obtain funds, did not specify if these would be Argentinian or foreign business- men. The mother of a U.S. citizen residing in Cordoba received an extortion threat on 26 January when an unidentified caller threatened that her daughter would be killed if he were not paid $50,000 by 24 April. The "Red Brigade of Workers Power" is planning a terrorist campaign beginning 2 April against several targets, one of which is the U.S. mission in Argentina. ** Indicates a new threat reported for the first time. * Indicates a revision of a threat reported in previous issues. 3.5(c) Approved I ... r.� Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 B-I -1 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO2630604 NR