Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans 1988

Sub-Saharan Africa (AF)
January 22, 1988--Dakar, Senegal: An American
USAID dependent driving a privately owned
vehicle bearing official license plates sustained
minor injuries as well as damage to her car when
demonstrating students began spilling out into the
streets and hurling stones at passing automobiles.
Approximately 100 Senegalese students demonstrated
at Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University
(formerly Dakar University), marking the 1-year
anniversary of student strikes in Dakar that had
resulted in the death of one student. As the
American dependent was driving by the university,
students hurled a large rock that smashed a window
and bruised her shoulder.
February 1, 1988---Yaounde, Cameroon: As the
Ambassador was leaving the Embassy during the
afternoon, a knife-wielding Cameroonian male
stepped in front of his car, threatened to harm him,
and tore a U.S. flag from the car before departing.
The same man had previously threatened the
Deputy Chief of Mission and had left messages
demanding the closure of the Embassy.
May 15, 19881Khartoum, Sudan: Two nearly
simultaneous explosions rocked the Sudanese
capital of Khartoum on May 15, 1988. The first, at
approximately 8 p.m. local time, occurred in the
dining room of the Acropole Hotel and was powerful
enough to rip through the ceiling and also open a
hole in the floor. Eight people, including two
children, were killed and 15-20 injured. The second
incident, at approximately 8:05 p.m. local time, took
place nearby in the British Sudan Club, where two
gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons and
lobbed grenades, resulting in injuries but no deaths.
Three suspects were arrested immediately, and two
more were taken into custody several days after the
incident, lmad Ahmed, Sheriff Ezzat, Hassan
Qasim Nimr, Mustapha Aref, and lbrahim Saleh
Qusa'i were sentenced to death in a Sudanese court
on October 27, 1988. All are members of the radical
Palestinian Abu Nidal Organization (ANO), a group
responsible for dozens of terrorist attacks over the
past several years. The death sentence is currently
being appealed.
According to testimony for the prosecution
during the trial, 23-year-old lmad Ahmed carried
out the bombing in the Acropole Hotel dining room.
Ahmed, dressed in traditional Sudanese garb,
carried the explosives into the hotel concealed in a
canvas shoulder bag with a tennis racket.
Eyewitnesses report that Ahmed then ran up the
stairs to the dining room and hurled the bag, which
exploded and started a fire. Ahmed attempted to
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Areas of Anti-American Incidents in A--~
S. Africa /
Western Sahara I
U.S. Civilian I
0 1 2 3
Targets of Attack
U.S. Diplomatic~l~~~l~
* On May 15, 19BB in Khartoum, Sudan, the Acro•ole
Hotel (a transient hotel for Westerners) was attacked by
members of the Abu Nldal Organization. Seven people
were killed and 15-20 others (including 3 Americans)
were Injured in the Incident.
* On December 8, I988 two aircraft carrying USAID
personnel were eccldentalty fired at by members of the
POLISARIO. One of the planes was hit and crashed,
killing all five Americans aboard.
Types of Attack
Armed Confrontation
Rocket Attack
*Mob Incident
Terrorist Attack
Demonstration
I I I I
0 1 2 3
*On December 24 and 28, 1988 an American teacher and
a U.S. Embassy Defense Attache Officer were hurt In two
monstrations In Khertourn, Sudan.
flee the scene and was slightly injured in the face
and chest as the force of the blast hurled him
through the hotel's doorway. Ahmed was picked up
moments later, as he was attempting to discard his
Sudanese robe and seek help in the vicinity of the
Oasis Hotel, not far from the the scene of the
explosion.
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