Incident Summary:

02/11/2008: The President of East Timor, Jose Ramos Horta, was shot 3 times and severely wounded as he was walking outside his home at Areia Branca near Dili, East Timor at around 6:30am. The attack appeared to be a kidnapping attempt gone wrong, and was perpetrated by East Timor Rebels led by renegade Major Alfredo Reinado. Two of Horta's bodyguards, one of which was injured, exchanged fire with the kidnappers/gunmen who were in two vehicles when they attempted to abduct the president. It was also declared that Alfredo Reinado and one of his soldiers were killed in the exchange. This attack as well as a later assassination attempt agains the Prime Minister of East Timor the same day was considered an attempt to overthrow the government.

GTD ID:
200802110001

When:
2008-02-11

Country:
East Timor

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Dili

City:
Near Dili

Location Details:
Outside of Dili

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) No
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity East Timor Government
Specific Description President Jose Ramos Horta
Nationality of Target East Timor
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information A rebel group led by Reinado approached President Horta in two cars, and as they tried to make the abduction, Horta reached for a cell phone. The rebels shot him three times, and a shootout ensued with Horta's bodyguards.
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 / 1 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 2
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 1
Total Number of Injured 1
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
Brendan Nicholson, “President fights for life; East Timor leader shot on morning walk in coup attempt,” The Age, Feb 12, 2008.
Lindsay Murdoch, “Man of peace gunned down,” The Age, Feb 12, 2008.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, “President Ramos Horta critical after rebel's assassination attempt - Diggers sent to crisis in Timor,” The Australian, Feb 12, 2008.