2001 Angola train attack

{{Infobox terrorist attack

|title=2001 Angola train attack

|image=

|target=

|date={{Date and age|10 August 2001}}

|time-begin=

|time-end=

|timezone=

|type=

|location= Angola

|fatalities=252

|injuries=165{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/aug2001/ang-a23.shtml |title=Train bombing signals new UNITA offensive in Angola |publisher=Wsws.org |date=2009-01-13 |access-date=2010-03-21}}

|susperps=

|perps=UNITA

}}

The 2001 Angola train attack was an attack during the Angolan Civil War when on 10 August 2001 UNITA forces derailed a train travelling between towns of Zenza and Dondo with an anti-tank mine and then attacked the passengers with small arms fire.

History

The Angolan Civil War had been going on since 1975 and was a legacy of the Cold War. As part of its ongoing efforts to overthrow the government, the 2001 Angola train attack occurred on 10 August 2001 when a passenger train in Angola hit an anti-tank mine placed on the track by National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) rebels. After its derailment, rebels attacked the passengers with gunfire, killing around 250 people of the 500 who were on the train.{{harvnb|ICtBL|2002|p=66}}{{harvnb|Riley|2004|p=5}}

{{harvnb|Osmańczyk|Mango|2003| p=96}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1486448.stm |title=Africa | Angola train toll rises |publisher=BBC News |date=2001-08-12 |access-date=2010-03-21}} The attack took place about {{convert|150|km|mi}} south-east of the capital, Luanda. On 16 August 2001, members of the United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "terrorist attack".{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/storyAr.asp?NewsID=1244&Cr=Angola&Cr1= |title=Angola: Security Council members condemn 'terrorist' UNITA train attack |publisher=Un.org |date=2001-08-16 |access-date=2010-03-21}}

On August 13, UNITA took responsibility for the attack.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1489317.stm |title=AFRICA | Rebels claim Angolan train attack |publisher=BBC News |date=2001-08-13 |access-date=2010-03-21}}

References

;Notes

;Bibliography

{{cite book |last=ICtBL| author-link = International Campaign to Ban Landmines| title = Landmine monitor report 2002: toward a mine-free world|edition=2002|year=2002|url=http://lm.icbl.org/index.php/publications/display?url=lm/2002/angola.html| publisher = Human Rights Watch| isbn= 1-56432-277-7}} - Total pages: 922
{{cite book |last=Osmańczyk|first=Edmund Jan|last2=Mango|first2=Anthony | title = Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: A to F|edition=2003|year=2003| publisher = Taylor & Francis| isbn= 0-415-93921-6 }} - Total pages: 2941
{{cite journal |last=Riley|first=Jack |author-link=RAND Corporation |date=March 2004|title=Terrorism and Rail Security|pages=1–14 |url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/22652783/Terrorism-and-Rail-Security |access-date= March 25, 2010 |journal=RAND Corporation|publisher=docstoc.com }}