TERRORISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00434R000100010004-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 22, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

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22 May 1984
MEMORANDUM FOI Chief, European Division, DO
National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Terrorism
I want to be thoroughly up to date on the various terrorist
organizations and their various in Europe for my visit
there I would like to see
the material a day or so before we leave. I am particularly
interested in aircraft threats and concerns about leaks on terrorist
reporting.
William J. Casey
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA:
FROM:
2 2 MAY 1984
National. Intelligence Office for Counterterrorism
Chief, European Division
Directorate of Operations
Director of Global Issues
Directorate of Intelligence
SUBJECT: Terrorist Groups and Activities in Europe
1. Over one third of all international terrorist attacks in
1983 and the first half of 1984 occurred in Western Europe. The
greatest number of incidents occurred in France, but with the
exception of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, every nation in Western
Eurol.e has experienced recent terrorist activity on its
territory. Most international terrorism by indigenous West
European groups is leftist, anarchistic or separatist in its
origins, and in many instances it is conducted to demonstrate
opposition to US and NATO policies. Although the number and
intensity of terrorist incidents in Italy and West Germany
declined as a result of counterterrorist successes in 1982,
recent developments indicate a gradual resurgence of indigenous
terrorist capabilities in those countries. Perhaps of even
greater importance is the use of Western Europe as a staging
ground and focal point for much of the terrorist activity
undertaken by Middle Eastern groups and nations. Athens probably
is the most dangerous center of such activity currently.
2. We consider the following groups and nations to be the
most dangerous terrorist actors in Western Europe:
o Iran has agents in Western Europe capable of launching
terrorist operations at any time. The recent seizure of
Iranian facilities in several West European nations by
anti-Khomeini exiles makes the dissident community the
most likely target of Iranian state agents, but US and
possibly French and British interests could be attacked
if the crisis in the Persian Gulf escalates.
o Libyan leader Qadhafi has blamed the UK and the US among
others for the recent commando raid on his Tripoli
headquarters by Libyan dissidents.
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SUBJECT: Terrorist Groups and Activities in Europe
o Abu Nidal's Black June Organization has cells in Turkey,
West Germany, France, Spain, and probably elsewhere in
Europe, and recently assassinated one of its own members
in Cyprus. It has attacked moderate PLO and Arab
officials as well as Israeli and Jewish targets for the
past ten years and will continue to do so. The group is
headquartered in Syria, but may be receiving money from
Iran and Libya and could be influenced by those states
to target US or Western interests.
o LARF, the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction, has
killed, or attempted to kill, at least five US officials
and two Israeli diplomats in France since 1981. Most
recently--in March 1984--it attempted to assassinate the
US Consul General in Strasbourg. The identity and size
The group is likely to strike
o PLO groups continue to plan and stage attacks into
Israel and the occupied territories. To date, they have
adhered to Arafat's ban on terrorism outside these
areas, but the more radical, anti-Arafat groups such as
the PFLP-GC, PFLP and DFLP might break ranks and operate
in Europe-if Arafat's position within the PLO continues
to weaken.
o The leftist Armenian terrorist group ASALA appears to
have switched its focus to Turkish diplomats in the
Middle East, especially in Iran. It probably is not a
threat to US interests in Western Europe.
o There are recent indications that the Red Army Faction
(RAF) in West Germany is rebuilding its organization.
The RAF has been violently opposed to the US military
presence, and we suspect it is likely to remain so.
o The Marxist 17 November Organization in Greece has
claimed responsibility for several attacks against
Americans in Athens, most recently for the attempted
murder in April of an NCO assigned to JUSMAGG. It has
pledged in recent communiques to continue to attack
Americans. We do not know the number or identity of
group members.
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TOP SWET~
SUBJECT: Terrorist Groups and Activities in Europe
o The Marxist Red Brigades (BR) in Italy is continuing to
expand, and a number of its components are
operational. It claimed responsibility for the mid-
February assassination of Leamon Hunt in Rome. Recent
BR communiques reflect its opposition to Italian
participation in NATO, and to the worldwide influence of
Western "imperialism."
o Recent terrorist attacks in Spain may mark the
resurgence of the leftist organization GRAPO, despite
continuing efforts by Spanish police to eliminate it.
GRAPO remains a potential threat to the Spanish
Government and could also become a threat to US military
facilities or personnel there.
o French authorities banned the leftist anarchist
organization Action Directe in 1982, and its activities
were subsequently curtailed. There are some signs,
however, that the group has been reactivated, and that
it has links to other West European--particularly
Italian--terrorists. Last fall the group threatened to
attack US interests, but so far an attack has not
materialized.
Threat to Aircraft in Western Europe
As you are aware, we have been cooperating
in an attempt to neutralize the efforts of
the 15 May Organization to place a bomb on an El Al or other
aircraft. The first such attempt occurred in Athens late last
year.
e as passe a genera warning o S carriers, an
various other international carriers have become aware of the
potential danger to commercial airliners operating out of Western
Europe.
Operations by this Iraqi-backed
group are potentially dangerous for US and other West European
aircraft because stringent security precautions around El Al
aircraft could encourage the group to attempt to place a bomb on
a less well-guarded carrier.
There have been a number of leaks to the media about the
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TOP WRETI
SUBJECT: Terrorist Groups and Activities in Europe
The Problem of Leaks
5. Recent leaks of terrorist reporting have caused serious
damage to our counterterrorist effort. The numerous press
reports concerning the interception of Iranian communications led
Tehran to initiate a courier service
(Libya responded in similar fashion to the more
recent disclosure that its enciphered communications to Western
Europe were being read.
Other terrorist actors probably have
been made more cautious in their security procedures as well.
While the leaks on terrorism to date have not similarly led to
the loss of we believe the
fear of damaging leaks almost certainly prevents some sources
Frnm information fully with the United States.
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According to recent reporting in the Italian press, the
state prosecutor has recommended that Sergey Antonov--along with
two other Bulgarians and four Turks--stand trial for alleged
complicity in the attack on the Pope. Reportedly the prosecutor
decided there was sufficient evidence to bring Antonov and his
presumed accomplices to trial, citing holes in Antonov's alibis
during the three days just before and after the attack.
The prosecutor's recommendation has freed Investigating
Magistrate Martella to file his brief with the court. The next
decision--whether to proceed with a trial--now rests with Judge
Martella.
We continue to believe, however, that an indictment
but there probably is insufficient evidence to obtain
a conviction.
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