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Alfortville Armenian Genocide Memorial bombings

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A hit-team headed bomb attack was undertaken at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Alfortville, France by Grey Wolves member[1] Abdullah Çatlı and paid for by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization.[2][3][4][5] It occurred on 3 May 1984, in a heavily Armenian populated district.[4]

The target chosen for the attack was a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide on the rue Étienne Dolet which was inaugurated on 24 April 1984, the 69th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.[4] The Turkish press denounced the monument as a "monument of hate".[4][6] About a week after the inauguration, three bombs were reported to have exploded on 3 May 1984, resulting in thirteen injuries, two of them serious.[5][7] The monument, made of Khachkar stone, was severely damaged in the blasts. The mayor of Alfortville at the time, Joseph Franceschi [fr], who was also the secretary of state for public security, condemned the attack.[5] Jean Poperen, who was the national secretary for the Socialist Party of France, also condemned the attack and expressed his solidarity with the Armenians of France.[8]

An investigation was begun immediately after the attack. It was later reported by one newspaper that the attack was operated by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization or MİT.[3] The memorial bombing came after several bombings that occurred against Armenian institutions and monuments throughout France, such as the bombing of the Armenian Cultural Center in Alfortville in 1983.[2]

A second attack occurred during the evening of 13 April 2002; three unknown assailants threw three molotov cocktails at the monument, causing serious damage.[9] The attack occurred within days of the 87th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. An investigation was launched by the local Alfortville police but the assailants were never caught.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Atkins, Stephen E. (2004). Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups / äc Stephen E. Atkins. Westport, Conn. [u.a.]: Greenwood Press. p. 110. ISBN 9780313324857.
  2. ^ a b c Grosscup, Beau (1991). The new explosion of terrorism. Far Hills, NJ: New Horizon Pr. p. 297. ISBN 9780882820743. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Ergenekon document reveals MİT’s assassination secrets Archived August 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Today's Zaman, 19 August 2008
  4. ^ a b c d Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (1985). Gerard Libaridian (ed.). A Crime of Silence: The Armenian Genocide. London: Zed Books. ISBN 9780862324230.
  5. ^ a b c British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service (1984). Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa, Issues 7631-7657. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  6. ^ Davidian, compiled by David (1989). Addressing Turkish genocide apologists : [on UNIX UseNet World Wide Computer Network. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Published by the Social Democratic Party of Armenia. ISBN 9781877935015.
  7. ^ The Middle East, Issues 111-122. IC Publications. 1984.
  8. ^ United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service, United States. Joint Publications Research Service. Near East/South Asia Report, Issue 84094.
  9. ^ "Armenian Genocide Monument in French City Damaged". Asbarez. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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