Alfortville Armenian Genocide Memorial Bombings

The Alfortville Armenian Genocide Memorial Bombing was a hit-team headed attack undertaken by Grey Wolves member[1] Abdullah Catli and paid for by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization.[2][3][4][5] It occurred on May 3, 1984, in a heavily Armenian populated district of Alfortville (a suburb of Paris).[4]

The target chosen for the attack was a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide on the rue Etienne Dolet which was inaugurated on April 24, 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 May 3, 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, 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 April 13, 2002; three unknown assailants threw three molotov cocktails at the monument, causing the monument to be severely damaged.[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

References

  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. 1 2 3 Grosscup, Beau (1991). The new explosion of terrorism. Far Hills, NJ: New Horizon Pr. p. 297. ISBN 9780882820743. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 Ergenekon document reveals MİT’s assassination secrets, Today's Zaman, 19 August 2008
  4. 1 2 3 4 Libaridian, the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal ; preface by Pierre Vidal-Naquet ; [edited by Gerard (1985). A Crime of silence : the Armenian genocide. London: Zed Books. ISBN 9780862324230.
  5. 1 2 3 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, Mass.: 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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