Incident Summary:

02/16/1999: A car bombs exploded in downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This attack was the fifth of six that took place within an hour of each other. At least 128 people were wounded and 13 killed in the combined attacks. There was some official speculation that these incidents were targeting Uzbek President Islam Karimov, whose motorcade was traveling through the city during the attacks. There were no claims of responsibility, but officials searched for 12 people believed to be involved in the bombing.

GTD ID:
199902160006

When:
1999-02-16

Country:
Uzbekistan

Region:
Central Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Tashkent

City:
Tashkent

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Uzbekistan Government
Specific Description Uzbek President Islam Karimov
Nationality of Target Uzbekistan
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Civilians in in downtown Tashkent
Nationality of Target Uzbekistan
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 Vehicle
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information This was one of six related attacks (cf. 199902160002-7). It was not clear which casualties resulted from which attack, so the total figures were divided equally across these cases to preserve the statistical accuracy of the database. Two motives were suggested for the bombings: the assassination of President Karimov; an intimidation tactic by religious extremists to show displeasure with current secular policies.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 2 Fatalities / 21 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 2
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 21
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Alexander Koretsky, "Attempt To Blast Uzbekistan President Undertaken,” Russian Press Digest, February 17, 1999.
"Bomb attacks target Uzbek president, reports of 10 dead,” Agence France Presse, February 16, 1999.
Heather Clark, "Uzbek capital secure as police search for bombers,” Agence France Presse, February 17, 1999.