1980 Paris synagogue bombing
Encyclopedia
On October 3, 1980, the eve of Simchat Torah
, a bomb went off outside the Union Libérale Israélite de France
synagogue on Rue Copernic, Paris. Four people were killed and more than forty injured. The bomb, consisting of about 10 kilograms (22 lb) of Semtex
explosives, had been hidden in the saddlebags of a motorcycle parked outside the synagogue. It went off at 6:38 PM, shortly before the end of services. None of those killed were members of the congregation.
sparked allegations of anti-semitism by describing the bombing as “a heinous act against Jews in a synagogue that struck four innocent Frenchmen crossing the street”—a comment which seemed to imply that the synagogue's members were neither innocent nor truly French.
French police initially suspected that the attack had been carried out by neo-Nazis, but later attributed it to the PFLP or one of its offshoots. In 2008 France began seeking the extradition of Hassan Diab
, a Lebanese-born Canadian citizen, in connection with the bombing. On June 6th 2011 a Canadian court ordered the extradition of Hassan Diab, however it was ruled that he could remain in Canada for a further 30 days, giving him a chance to appeal.
, Austria
, was attacked by Palestinian
gunmen, who killed two people and wounded 30 in the 1981 Vienna synagogue attack
. On October 20, 1981, also the eve of Simchat Torah, three people were killed and 94 injured in a truck bomb attack outside a synagogue in the diamond-trading centre of Antwerp, Belgium
in the 1981 Antwerp bombing
.
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle...
, a bomb went off outside the Union Libérale Israélite de France
Union Libérale Israélite de France
The Union Libérale Israélite de France , sometimes called the rue Copernic synagogue, is a Reform Jewish synagogue, located in Paris, France. Founded in 1907 by Rabbi Louis-Germain Levy, it is the oldest Reform synagogue in France. It has been led by Rabbi Michael Williams since 1978...
synagogue on Rue Copernic, Paris. Four people were killed and more than forty injured. The bomb, consisting of about 10 kilograms (22 lb) of Semtex
Semtex
Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive containing RDX and PETN. It is used in commercial blasting, demolition, and in certain military applications. Semtex became notoriously popular with terrorists because it was, until recently, extremely difficult to detect, as in the case of Pan Am...
explosives, had been hidden in the saddlebags of a motorcycle parked outside the synagogue. It went off at 6:38 PM, shortly before the end of services. None of those killed were members of the congregation.
Aftermath and investigation
After the attack then-Prime Minister Raymond BarreRaymond Barre
Raymond Octave Joseph Barre was a French centre-right politician and economist. He was a Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs under three Presidents and later served as Prime Minister under Valéry Giscard d'Estaing from 1976 until 1981...
sparked allegations of anti-semitism by describing the bombing as “a heinous act against Jews in a synagogue that struck four innocent Frenchmen crossing the street”—a comment which seemed to imply that the synagogue's members were neither innocent nor truly French.
French police initially suspected that the attack had been carried out by neo-Nazis, but later attributed it to the PFLP or one of its offshoots. In 2008 France began seeking the extradition of Hassan Diab
Hassan Diab
Hassan Diab is a sociology lecturer at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who was arrested in 2008 for an alleged role in the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing. On June 6, 2011, a judge in Ottawa agreed to a French request to extradite Diab to France for trial...
, a Lebanese-born Canadian citizen, in connection with the bombing. On June 6th 2011 a Canadian court ordered the extradition of Hassan Diab, however it was ruled that he could remain in Canada for a further 30 days, giving him a chance to appeal.
Subsequent attacks
The bombing was the first of a string of attacks against Jews in Europe. On August 29, 1981, a synagogue in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, was attacked by Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
gunmen, who killed two people and wounded 30 in the 1981 Vienna synagogue attack
1981 Vienna synagogue attack
The 1981 Vienna synagogue attack was a terror attack on the Stadttempel of Vienna, Austria carried out by Palestinian terrorists of the Abu Nidal organization. -Attack:...
. On October 20, 1981, also the eve of Simchat Torah, three people were killed and 94 injured in a truck bomb attack outside a synagogue in the diamond-trading centre of Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the 1981 Antwerp bombing
1981 Antwerp bombing
On October 20, 1981, a truck bomb exploded outside a Portuguese Jewish synagogue in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium. Three people were killed and 106 wounded....
.