Incident Summary:
10/30/1983: The U.S. Federal Building, housing the FBI headquarters in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, was blasted with a bazooka. Specifically, it was a light anti-tank weapon which was made for use by the U.S. Army. No casualties resulted from the attack; however, the blast caused shattered windows and frames, and damage to air conditioners and ceiling as well as minor damage to the U.S. Department of Agriculture nearby. There were at least three perpetrators in the attack. The Macheteros claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to the Associated Press in San Juan, at which time the caller expressed the group's support for the people of Grenada and opposition towards the US for the invasion of Grenada. Additionally, the group left communiqués which stated the blast was in protest of the policies of the U.S. and Ronald Reagan, who the Macheteros claim, took advantage of the people of Grenada to reestablish imperialism.
Overview
GTD ID:
198310300009
When:
1983-10-30
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Puerto Rico
City:
Hato Rey
What
Attack Information
| Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
| Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
| Target Type: Government (General) |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Federal Building |
| Specific Description |
federal building in Hato Rey, housing the FBI headquarters |
| 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 |
$5,000.00 |
How
Weapon Information
| Type |
Sub-type |
| Explosives |
Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.) |
| Weapon Details |
|---|
| bazooka, light anti-tank weapon intended for use by the U.S. Army |
Additional Information
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
| Additional Information |
The incident occurred at approximately 7:43pm. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
| Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
| Macheteros |
Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Other) |
Perpetrator Statistics
| Number of Perpetrators |
3 |
| 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
Sources
| United Press International, October 31, 1983. |
| Myron Struck, "GSA Public Buildings Commissioner Announces Resignation; Haase Accepts Job That Is 'Just Too Good to Pass Up'," The Washington Post, November 5, 1983. |
| "FBI Analysis of Terrorist Incidents in the United States: 1983," Terrorist Research and Analytical Center, Terrorism Section, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, DOJ, 1983. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties
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