Back to Search ResultsIncident Summary:
12/04/1979: Jet [and] Cruise Travel Agency in Astoria, New York, in the United States, managed by Yugoslavian native, Nadjo Balac of Manhattan, was bombed by the Croatian Freedom Fighters, who claimed responsibility for the incident. Two women, both employees of the agency, and an off-duty police officer, were slightly injured by shards of flying glass from the explosion. Additionally, the explosion destroyed the side wall of the agency, causing extensive damage, and also damaged a jewelry store on the first floor and the apartment of an elderly couple on the third floor. Less than an hour after the blast, a man called the Associated Press and a local TV station, claiming bombing and identifying himself as a member of the Croatian Freedom Fighters. He also stated that a message was left in a locker at the terminal at 421 Grand Central Station. The message was written in Croatian and listed a series of demands that the group asked be aired on television and radio between 6pm and 7pm that evening, otherwise 2 more bombs, which were placed in congested areas, would be detonated at 8:30pm that evening. The group's message, which denounced the Yugoslav Secret Police, and asked that the U.S. stop economic aid to Yugoslavia and that political and economic ties to Yugoslavia by the U.S. and West Germany be broken, was aired, and no other bombs were detonated.Overview
GTD ID:
197912040002
When:
1979-12-04
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
New York
City:
New York City
Location Details:
1 at travel agency at 32-03 Broadway, Astoria in Queens
What
| Target Type: Business | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Entity | Jet and Cruise Travel Agency | ||
| Specific Description | travel agency, owned by Yugoslavian native | ||
| Nationality of Target | United States | ||
| Hostages | No |
| Ransom | No |
| Property Damage | Yes |
| Extent of Property Damage | Minor (likely < $1 million) |
| Value of Property Damage | Unknown |
How
| Type | Sub-type |
|---|---|
| Explosives | Time Fuse |
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 (more) | Yes |
| Criterion 2 (more) | Yes |
| Criterion 3 (more) | Yes |
| Additional Information | The Croatian Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for the attack through both phone calls to the press following the explosion, and a message left in a locker at the Grand Central Terminal. |
Who
| Group Name | Claimed Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Croatian Freedom Fighters | Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Call (post-incident)) |
| Number of Perpetrators | Unknown |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators | Unknown |
| Total Number of Casualties | 0 Fatalities / 3 Injured |
| Total Number of Fatalities | 0 |
| Number of U.S. Fatalities | 0 |
| Number of Perpetrator Fatalities | 0 |
| Total Number of Injured | 3 |
| Number of U.S. Injured | 3 |
| Number of Perpetrators Injured | 0 |
Sources
| Robert McG. Thomas Jr., "Bomb Laid to Croats Damages Queens Travel Agency," New York Times, December 5, 1979. |
| "Explosion Rocks Three-Story Building; One Hurt," The Associated Press, December 4, 1979. |
| "Croatians Claim Responsibility For Explosion," The Associated Press, December 4, 1979. |
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