When Embassies Become Places Of Terror, Not Sanctuaries

Suicide bombings, hostage situation— embassies and consulates have seen plenty of tragedy and bloodshed.

A security guard reaches out his hand from the entrance of the Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Photo: AP

Embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions worldwide are often considered places of sanctuary. However, not all have been impervious to horrific incidents.

When Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi vanished after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last week it prompted Turkish officials and media to claim he may have been killed and even dismembered by a squad of assassins on the premises. The macabre mystery stirred memories of instances when diplomatic missions turned into places of terror.

Brutal killings, suicide bombings, militant raids and hostage crises — embassies and consulates have seen plenty of tragedy and bloodshed.

Here are just some of many examples:

Benghazi, Attack On US Compounds In Libya

Libyan extremists from the militant Ansar al-Shariah group attacked two US compounds — a diplomatic post and a CIA annex nearby — in the city of Benghazi on 11 September 2012, setting off a night of rampage that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, and gutted the buildings. Last year, a jury in Washington convicted 47-year-old Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khattala on multiple terrorism-related charges for his role in the attacks.

Australian Embassy Bombing In Jakarta

Suspected Muslim militants detonated a car bomb outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 9 September 2004, killing eight people, including an embassy guard, policemen on duty, two embassy workers and a visa applicant.

Myanmar Embassy Siege In Bangkok

A shadowy group known as the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors stormed the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok on 7 October 1999. They took 38 hostages to demand democracy in their country, also known as Burma. Thailand allowed them to fly to the border, angering Myanmar but ending the standoff without bloodshed.

US Bombing Of Chinese Embassy in Belgrade

Firemen and rescue workers walk through the debris of Israel’s Embassy after an attack in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Photo: AP

NATO bombs hit the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by mistake on 8 May 1999, killing three Chinese reporters. In China, protesters retaliated by attacking US missions.

Al-Qaeda Bombings Of US Embassies in East Africa

Al-Qaeda launched near-simultaneous truck bombings on 7 August 1998, targeting US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224 people. Most of the victims were Kenyans but 12 Americans also died. The mastermind behind the attacks, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, eluded capture for 13 years before he was gunned down at a security checkpoint in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, a month after al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALs in Pakistan in May 2011.

Islamic Jihad's Attack On Egyptian Embassy In Pakistan

A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-packed truck into the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad on 19 November 1995, killing 15 people, including the second secretary of the embassy and three Egyptian security guards. Egypt handed down a death sentence in absentia to its citizen Ayman al-Zawahri, who led the militant group and later merged it with al-Qaeda, for this attack. Al-Zawahri succeeded bin Laden as al-Qaeda's chief.

Japanese Embassy Hostage Crisis In Peru

Leftist Tupac Amaru rebels seized the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, Peru, on 17 December 1996, during a party celebrating Emperor Akihito's birthday, taking diplomats, guests and government officials hostage and demanding the release of their imprisoned comrades. The rebels held 72 hostages for 126 days before government troops stormed the premises; one hostage, two commandos and all rebels were killed. The story inspired the best-seller Bel Canto by US author Ann Patchett.

Attacks on Israeli Embassy, Jewish Centre In Argentina

Iranian demonstrators burn an effigy of Uncle Sam, branded with CIA on its right arm outside the US Embassy in Tehran, during a demonstration in support of the Iranian militants who took over the embassy.Photo: AP

A bomb flattened the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires on 18 March 1992, killing 29 people, including four Israelis. Two years later, a Jewish community centre in the city was bombed, killing 85 people — the deadliest bombing ever in Argentina. Israel and Argentina have long accused Iran of being behind the bombings. Iran has denied any role in the attacks.

Beirut, US Embassy Bombing

A suicide bombing on 18 April 1983, at the US Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people, including 17 Americans. The victims were mostly embassy and CIA staff, but also several US soldiers and a Marine. It was the deadliest attack on an American diplomatic mission up to that time. A shadowy Shiite group calling itself Islamic Holy War took responsibility.

Iran, US Embassy In Tehran

Militant Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979, and took 52 Americans hostages. The attackers demanded the return of the shah to Iran to face trial. President Jimmy Carter refused and launched a failed commando raid to free the captives. Six Americans who fled the initial takeover and found refuge with the Canadian ambassador later escaped Iran with the CIA's help. Their escape was dramatised in the 2012 film Argo. Iran held the hostages for 444 days, releasing them only after the 1981 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.

West Germany Embassy Siege In Stockholm

German anarchists of the Red Army Faction shot their way into the West German Embassy in Stockholm on 24 April 1975, demanding the release of their comrades from prisons back home. They took 12 embassy staff hostage, including Ambassador Dietrich Stoecher. During the standoff with the Swedish police, the attackers killed the military and the economic attachés before accidentally blowing up a part of the building.

Attack On Saudi Embassy In Khartoum

The Palestinian terror group Black September attacked the Saudi Embassy in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, during a formal reception on 1 March 1973 and took 10 diplomats hostage. After President Richard Nixon refused to negotiate with the attackers, three Western hostages were killed, including George Curtis Moore, the US chargé d'affaires.

Israeli Embassy In Bangkok Hostage Crisis

The Black September faction took over the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on 28 December1972, and held six Israeli embassy staff hostage. The hijackers agreed after negotiations to leave in exchange for safe conduct to Egypt.

Yugoslav Embassy In Stockholm

Two Croatian separatists stormed the Yugoslav Embassy in Stockholm on 7 April 1971, where they held and mortally wounded Ambassador Vladimir Rolovic. The attackers were later caught and convicted in Sweden. One of them, Miro Baresic, was released in 1972 as part of demands by Croatian hijackers of a Swedish domestic flight. He was later extradited from Paraguay to Sweden to serve the remainder of his sentence.