TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN SAGION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-553-5-16-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: March 25, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/27: LOC-HAK-553-5-16-5
SECRET/SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Henry A. Kissingery,?
Terrorist Activities in Saigon
'i.T.5111%
The daily brief of February 28, 1970, described two enemy terrorist
attacks ill Saigon as well as the first enemy ground contact in the
capital in almost four months. You asked if there were any special
significance to these activities and, specifically, whether they were
a reaction to our own operations.
Although my checks indicated that there appeared to be no special
significance to these activities, I asked Director Helms to investigate
because we were involved in I at the time.
Helms' report at Tab A indicates:
-- The ground activities involved a Viet Cong squad on patrol
which was discovered on the edge of Saigon's southernmost
precinct and engaged by a Regional Force ambush company
for an hour before the enemy withdrew, leaving two enemy
dead.
? In, the terrorist incident involving a ton-pound explosive detonated
near the wall of a U.S. barracks, two Americans and two civilians
were wounded. Since this building is a well-known priority
target of the Viet Cong, the timing of the activity probably had
little significance. (Several hours later a second charge was
exploded at a Peoples Self Deffusse Headquarters located near
the U.S. barracks but there were no casualties.)
It is my assessment that these incidents had no special significance and
re not meant as a response to U.S. action*.
Attachment
SECRET/SENSITIVE
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
MORI/CDF
C05099067
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
MEMORANDUM FOR:
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger,
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
SUBJECT: Terrorist Attacks in Saigon
REFERENCE: Your Memorandum of March 9, 1970
1. Our Saigon Station reports that the two actions to which
you refer consisted of the following:
a. A little after midnight on 28 February
an ARVN RF company on a patrol operation engaged
a Viet Cong squad just inside the southwest edge of
Saigon's southernmost precinct. The enemy responded
to the RF company's fire. The contact lasted for
about an hour at which time the enemy withdrew in
a northwesterly direction. Five of the RF company
were wounded and two VC were killed in the action.
One of the dead VC was identified by documents as
a platoon leader from a battalion of SR-3.
b. At 2020 hours on 27 February an estimated
ten pounds of plastique explosive was detonated near
the wall of the Metropole enlisted billet. Two Americans
were wounded and two civilians injured with minor
damage to the building.
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2. The incident described in paragraph I a. above does
not appear to have been a ground assault. The VC unit was on
patrol and was discovered by the RF company. The Metropole
billet is a well known priority target of the Viet Cong and it
seems most likely that the attack against it merely represents
accomplishment of a long.-standing VC operational goal.
Richard Helms
Director
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d:
ECRET/SENS1IVE
March 14, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR HENRY A. KISSINGER
FROM:
Al Haig
SUBJECT: Terrorist Attacks in Saigon
At Tab B is a copy of the President's daily
brief on which he asks if there is any
significance to the terrorist attacks and
ground contact which occurred on the evening
of February 27. In case you dosire to send
a response to the President's question, there
is a memorandum at Tab A which forwards a
CIA report concluding that there probably was
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Attachments
SECRET /SENSITIVE
JH:pmh 3/14/70
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/27: LOC-HAK-553-5-16-5