Incident Summary:
09/06/1985: A bomb exploded at the home of Elmars Sprogis in Brentwood, New York, United States, a residential community in Suffolk County, about 40 miles east of Manhattan. Sprogis, and American citizen, was a former police chief in Nazi-occupied Latvia during World War II, and had been previously been accused of war crimes, but in deportation proceedings, all charges against him were dismissed. At the time of the incident, it is suspected that a fire was set at Sprogis' home in order to have him evacuate the home via the front door, where an explosive was planted on his front steps. Sprogis' neighbor Robert Seifried, saw the fire, and went to alert Sprogis, but inadvertently set off the bomb (meant for Sprogis), resulting in serious burns to his Seifried's right foot, leg and shoulder. Damage to the home included shattered windows, destroyed aluminum siding, and other minor damage. After the incident, two calls were made to Newsday newspaper from an unknown male, stating "Listen carefully, Jewish Defense League, Nazi war criminal. Bomb. Never again." Though the JDL denied involvement in the incident, authorities believe the group was responsible.
Overview
GTD ID:
198509060007
When:
1985-09-06
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
New York
City:
Brentwood
Location Details:
at residence at 240 Second Avenue in Brentwood, Long Island
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Police |
Name of Entity |
Elmars Sprogis, a former police chief in Nazi-occupied Latvia accused of Nazi war crimes |
Specific Description |
Elmars Sprogis, a former police chief in Nazi-occupied Latvia accused of Nazi war crimes |
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 |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Incendiary |
Arson/Fire |
Explosives |
Unknown Explosive Type |
Weapon Details |
fire to Sprogis' home and bomb, planted and exploded on the front steps of the home |
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 about 4:30am, and the calls to Newsday were received at approximately 4:55am and 5:05am. Even though the callers claimed responsibility in the name of the JDL, leaders of the group denied the group's responsibility or involvement in the fire and explosion. Sprogis, and American citizen, was not injured in the incident, and was never convicted of the alleged war crimes; charges against him were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Members of the JDL and other militant Jewish organizations were critical of the decision. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Jewish Defense League (JDL) (suspected) |
Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Call (post-incident)) |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 1 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
1 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
1 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
"FBI Analysis of Terrorist Incidents and Terrorist Related Activities in the United States: 1985," Terrorist Research and Analytical Center, Terrorism Section, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, 1985. |
Robert D. McFadden, "Blast at Home of Ex-War Crimes Suspect Injures One; Bystander Hurt by Blast at Home Of a Onetime War Crimes Suspect ," New York Times, September 7, 1985. |
"Police Suspect Link In Blasts At Homes Of Men Tied to War Crimes," The Associated Press, September 7, 1985. |
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