Incident Summary:
02/21/1997: A bomb detonated at the Otherside Lounge, a gay and lesbian bar in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. This was the first of two related attacks at this location; the device was planted in a rear patio while there were about 150 people in the lounge. A second bomb intended to target first responders was found shortly after, and detonated unexpectedly while authorities were trying to disarm it with a robot. The first explosion injured at least five people and caused damage at the bar. In 2005, Eric Rudolph was convicted and sentenced to four life terms for carrying out this attack and others, including the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in July 1996 and a bombing at an abortion clinic in January 1997. A letter signed "Army of God," claimed responsibility for the attacks, noting anti-abortion and anti-LGBT motivations.
Overview
GTD ID:
199702210003
When:
1997-02-21
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Georgia
City:
Atlanta
Location Details:
1924 Piedmont Road
What
Attack Information
| Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
| Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
| Target Type: Business |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
The Otherside |
| Specific Description |
Gay and lesbian clientele |
| 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 |
| Explosives |
Dynamite/TNT |
| Weapon Details |
|---|
| The bomb consisted of 10-20 sticks of commercial grade dynamite, wire nails, and steel plates to direct the force of the explosion, wired to a "baby Big Ben" wind up clock and packed in a plastic food container in a green polyester backpack. |
Additional Information
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | Yes |
| Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
| Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
| Army of God |
Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Letter) |
Perpetrator Statistics
| Number of Perpetrators |
1 |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators |
1 |
Casualty Information
| Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 5 Injured |
| Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
| Total Number of Injured |
5 |
| Number of U.S. Injured |
5 |
| Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
| Tara Meyer, "Blast rips through nightclub in Atlanta: At least 5 injured by nails in bomb," South Bend Tribune (Associated Press), February 23, 1997. |
| Harry R. Weber, "Rudolph given 4 life terms in Atlanta Bombings," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Associated Press), August 23, 2005. |
| Dallas Duncan, "Coming out on the other side: 20 years after Atlanta LGBT bar bombing, Otherside Lounge owners, patrons revisit dark day," The Georgia Voice, February 16, 2017. |
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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