Terrorism in Argentina

Terrorism in Argentina has occurred since at least the 1970s during the Argentinian Dirty War where a number of terror acts occurred, with support of both the democratic government of Isabel Martínez de Perón and the following de facto government of the National Reorganization Process. In the 1990s, two major terrorist attacks occurred in Buenos Aires, which together caused 115 deaths and left at least 555 injured.[1]

State sponsored terrorism occurred in the 1970s by radical groups backed by the Argentinian democratic government and, later, by the military government.[2] The government also warned the press to minimise reporting of terrorism.[3]

Terrorist attacks

1992 Israeli embassy bombing

On 17 March 1992, a suicide bombing attack occurred at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Twenty-nine civilians were killed in the attack and 242 additional civilians were injured.[4]

1994 AMIA bombing

Main article: AMIA bombing

On 18 July 1994, a car bombing took place at the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA; Argentine Israelite Mutual Association) building in Buenos Aires killing 85 people and injuring hundreds.[5][6]

2011 police station bombing

On November 29, 2011, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at the main police station in the Buenos Aires city suburb of Avellaneda. The explosion damaged the building and nearby businesses, but caused no injuries. At the scene, police found pamphlets from an anarchist group calling itself the "Eduardo Maria Vazquez Aguirre Anti-Prison Insurgent Cell." Eduardo Maria Vazquez Aguirre was a Spanish anarchist who reportedly killed the Chief of the Argentine Police in a 1909 bombing. The pamphlet also stated that the bombing was in retaliation for the deaths of six named individuals shot by Buenos Aires police officers.[7]

2011 Security Ministry bombing

On December 21, 2011 an IED detonated within 100 meters from the Security Ministry headquarters in downtown Buenos Aires. The explosion damaged nearby cars and buildings, but caused no injuries. A group calling itself “the Nucleus of Conspirators for the Extension of Chaos” claimed credit for the attack and indicated that it would soon conduct more attacks.[7]

2013 attack

On 19 September 2013, a small improvised explosive device detonated in front of the headquarters of the Mutual Help Association of the Argentine National Gendarmerie. Two gendarmes were lightly wounded. Several groups claimed responsibility.[8]

Terror groups on border

A number of Islamic terror groups are known to operate on the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.[9]

Responses and counterterrorism efforts

Following the two bombings in Buenos Aires, national, regional, and local institutions responsible for emergency response in Argentina sought to improve their planning and preparedness for terrorism-related events. The Argentinian Government also introduced legislative measures to help deal with the threat of terrorism.[1]

SIFEM (1996)

In 1996, the Argentinian Government enacted legislation, which launched the Sistema Federal de Emergencias (SIFEM) or Federal Emergency System under the direction of the president.[1]

Argentina's Anti-Terrorism Law (2007)

The Argentinian Congress passed Argentina's Anti-Terrorism Law in 2007, focusing on preventing money laundering for financing terror attacks.[10]

Anti-terror legislation (2011)

On the 22 December 2011, the Argentinian Congress approved a package of modifications to existing Argentine law aimed at combating terrorism and financial crime. The changes raised concerns with human rights advocates.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Muro, Marcelo, Roberto Cohen, Daniel Maffei, Marcelo Ballesteros, and Luis Espinosa. "Terrorism in Argentina." Prehospital and disaster medicine 18, no. 02 (2003): 53-56.
  2. ↑ Marchak, Patricia, and William Marchak. God's assassins: state terrorism in Argentina in the 1970s. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 1999.
  3. ↑ Knudson, Jerry W. "Veil of Silence: The Argentine Press and the Dirty War, 1976-1983." Latin American Perspectives (1997): 93-112.
  4. ↑ 1992 Patterns of Global Terrorism: The Year in Review
  5. ↑ Caso AMIA: los fiscales dicen haber identificado al autor del atentado, Clarín November 10, 2005
  6. ↑ Identificaron al terrorista suicida que voló la AMIA, La Nación November 10, 2005
  7. 1 2 "Chapter 2: Country Reports, Western Hemisphere Review. 2011 Incidents." US State Department. Accessed January 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Chapter 2: Country Reports, Western Hemisphere Review. 2013 Incidents." US State Department. Accessed January 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Terrorism in Brazil." The Brazil Business. Accessed January 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ Gillermo Plate and Alfaro-Abogados. "Argentina: Overview On Argentina Anti Money Laundering (AML) And Combating Terrorist Financing (CFT) Situation." Mondaq, 11 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "Anti-Terrorism Law Causes Rights Concerns." The Argentinian Independent, July 25, 2012.
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