Besançon courthouse attack | |
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Location | Besançon, France |
Coordinates | 47°14′15″N 6°01′25″E / 47.2374843°N 6.0236485°E |
Date | 9 May 1970 10:30 pm (Paris) |
Weapons | IED |
Deaths | 0 |
Injured | 0 |
Perpetrator | Right-wing extremists |
No. of participants | Two |
Motive | Political terrorism |
A terrorist attack targeted the Besançon courthouse on 9 May 1970. It was perpetrated with a bomb by two men from OAS and UDR movements, in a context of resurgence of far-right violence in France.
On 9 May 1970, at 10:30 pm, the place du Huit-Septembre (September 8 Square) was shaken by an explosion. [1] The Besançon courthouse was just attacked [2] [3] with a bomb containing explosives and scrap metal. [1] Damage was substantial but limited : only the porch, the bay windows, and the salle des pas perdus (hall of lost steps), partly classifieds, were seriously affected. [1] A couple and their baby narrowly escaped the impact, but no one injuries were reported. [1] The mayor, the socialist Jean Minjoz, immediately condemned this act, while the investigation began. [1] Witnesses said they saw a man throw a device through, before escaping in an accomplice's car. [1] At first the attack was attributed to the left [3] [4] [5] but two individuals were arrested on 14 May with the number of their a registration plate. [1] They were former soldiers, workers at the Rhodiaceta factory, one was a member of the OAS and the other a member of the UDR [3] [6] [4] [7] [8] acting for defiant motives possibly related to access to power through the SAC. [9] [10] [2] The suspects admitted the facts, while weapons and ammunition were found. [1]