Incident Summary:

8/28/1971: In a series of related attacks, the Weathermen bombed the headquarters of the Department of Corrections Office located in a state office facility in Sacramento, California, United States. There were no casualties but two restrooms were destroyed and the building sustained structural damage. The incident took place on the same day as the funeral of George Jackson.

GTD ID:
197108280004

When:
1971-08-28

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

California

City:
Sacramento

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Department of Corrections
Specific Description Headquarters of Department of Corrections Office, Sacramento California
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Weapon Details
Bomb
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information This was part of a multiple attack with 197108280003. The bomb detonated around 2:02 AM. A caller claiming to be from the Weathermen warned authorities of the bombing right before the incident. The Weathermen also claimed the bombing in a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle. Authorities did not believe that this incident related was to the bombing of the State Department of Rehabilitation in San Mateo the same day (197108280005). George Jackson, an African American revolutionary, died attempting to break out of San Quentin prison. His funeral was held the same day as the incident. A San Francisco police officer was killed by the Black Liberation Army protesting George Jackson's death a day later (197108290001).
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Weather Underground, Weathermen Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Letter)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Death of Jackson Cited in Bombing Of Calif. Offices," Washington Post, August 29, 1971.
Douglas E. Kneeland, "Policeman's Killing Called Retaliation for Jackson's," New York Times, August 31, 1971.
George Skelton, "Anonymous Calls in 2 California Blasts," The Bryan Times, August 28, 1971.