West Berlin discotheque bombing
{{Short description|1986 attack in West Germany}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = West Berlin discotheque bombing
| partof = terrorism in Germany
| image = Roxy frontal.jpg
| caption = Roxy-Palast, the building in which the discotheque La Belle was located
| location = Hauptstraße 78, Bezirk Schöneberg, West Berlin, West Germany{{Efn|The political status of West Berlin was subject to controversy throughout its existence but de facto it operated as a federal state of West Germany.}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|28|23|N|13|20|12|E|type:event_region:DE-BE|display=inline,title}}
| date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1986|04|05}}
| time = 1:45 a.m.
| timezone = CET/CEST
| type = Bombing
| fatalities = 3 (2 US soldiers, 1 Turkish civilian)
| perps = Verena Chanaa, Yasir Shraydi, Musbah Eter, Ali Chanaa
| perp =
| susperps =
| susperp =
| weapons = Plastic explosive
}}
On 5 April 1986, three people were killed and 229 injured when La Belle discothèque was bombed in the Friedenau locality (then part of Schöneberg, and since 2001 part of the merged district of Tempelhof-Schöneberg) of West Berlin. The entertainment venue was commonly frequented by United States soldiers;{{cite news|last=Malinarich|first=Nathalie|date=13 November 2001|title=Flashback: The Berlin disco bombing|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1653848.stm|access-date=8 February 2010|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927070405/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1653848.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=24 May 1996|title=World News Briefs;Lebanon Hands Suspect Over to German Court|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/24/world/world-news-briefs-lebanon-hands-suspect-over-to-german-court.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=22 October 2020|archive-date=5 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405001947/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/24/world/world-news-briefs-lebanon-hands-suspect-over-to-german-court.html|url-status=live}} two of the dead and 79 of the injured were Americans.{{cite news|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|date=14 November 2001|title=4 Guilty in Fatal 1986 Berlin Disco Bombing Linked to Libya|newspaper=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/14/world/4-guilty-in-fatal-1986-berlin-disco-bombing-linked-to-libya.html|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915074443/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/14/world/4-guilty-in-fatal-1986-berlin-disco-bombing-linked-to-libya.html|url-status=live}}
Libya was accused by the US government of sponsoring the bombing, before US president Ronald Reagan ordered retaliatory strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya ten days later. The operation was widely seen as an attempt to kill colonel Muammar Gaddafi.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1653848.stm |title=Flashback: The Berlin disco bombing |date=2001-11-13 |work=BBC News |access-date=2020-04-02 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=27 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927070405/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1653848.stm |url-status=live }} However, in the bombing's aftermath, this claim was met with widespread skepticism. In 1987, Manfred Ganschow, the head of the West German team investigating the bombing, said that there was no evidence pointing towards Libya, a belief which was corroborated by numerous intelligence agencies in Europe at the time, according to a BBC report.{{Cite book|last=Chomsky|first=Noam|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46936001|title=Understanding power : the indispensable Chomsky|date=2002|publisher=New Press|others=Peter R. Mitchell, John Schoeffel|isbn=1-56584-703-2|location=New York|oclc=46936001}}{{Rp|page=81}} In 2001, following a four-year German trial, often described as "murky" and marred by what the court called a "limited willingness" by the American and German governments to share evidence, it was found that the bombing had been "planned by the Libyan Intelligence Service and the Libyan embassy", but Gaddafi was absolved of responsibility.{{Cite news|date=2001-11-13|title=Four jailed by Berlin court for disco bombing|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/four-jailed-by-berlin-court-for-disco-bombing-1.403572|access-date=2021-10-13|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119125911/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/four-jailed-by-berlin-court-for-disco-bombing-1.403572|url-status=live}}
Background
The bombing came at a time of heightened tension between the United States and Libya, which first escalated in the early 1980s.{{Rp|pages=77–78}} These tensions drastically escalated in early 1986, when US forces repeatedly flew planes over the Gulf of Sidra.{{Rp|pages=|page=78}} Libyan forces subsequently fired upon American planes,{{Rp|pages=|page=78}} which led to an American bombing campaign.
The site of the bombing, a discothèque known as La Belle, was known to be a popular spot for American troops in West Germany.
Attack
A bomb placed under a table near the disc jockey's booth exploded at 01:45 CET. An eyewitness testified that he had walked outside of the club prior to the bomb going off and the blast knocking him back. He righted himself and went inside to find his wife and joined many individuals who were attempting to help those near the blast.{{Cite journal|date=December 16, 2011|title=Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the US; Claim No. LIB-I-003 Decision No. LIB-I-044|url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/fcsc/docs/LIB-I-003-FD-PD.pdf|journal=Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the US; US Department of Justice Washington, DC|via=US Department of Justice|access-date=22 September 2021|archive-date=13 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032712/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/fcsc/docs/LIB-I-003-FD-PD.pdf|url-status=live}}
The blast destroyed a large portion of the floor, causing many to fall into the cellar underneath the dance floor.{{Cite web|last=Scheschkewitz|first=Daniel|title=Berlin's La Belle nightclub bombing remembered 25 years on {{!}} DW {{!}} 04.04.2011|url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-la-belle-nightclub-bombing-remembered-25-years-on/a-14965254|access-date=2021-09-22|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032716/https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-la-belle-nightclub-bombing-remembered-25-years-on/a-14965254|url-status=live}}
Victims
The explosion instantly killed a Turkish woman, Nermin Hannay, and US Army Sergeant Kenneth T. Ford. A second American sergeant, James E. Goins, died from his injuries two months later.{{cite web |title=Second U.S. Soldier Dies from Disco Bombing |url=https://apnews.com/65d7ca6f461f4c7a8efd8c6d290e3b29 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=8 June 1986}}{{Cite news|title=Body of disco victim flown home for burial|date=June 10, 1986|work=Newark Star-Ledger}}
The blast injured at least 230 individuals which included more than 50 American service members, as it was a popular hangout spot for service members. Some of the victims were left permanently disabled due to the injuries caused by the explosion.
Blame and retribution
Almost immediately after the bombing, the American government, led by president Ronald Reagan, placed the blame on Libya.{{Rp|page=|pages=77–80}} However, the West German team investigating the bombing had not found any evidence of Libyan involvement, and other intelligence agencies throughout Europe also did not find evidence of Libyan involvement. Nine days after the bombing, Reagan ordered airstrikes against the Libyan capital of Tripoli,{{Rp|page=|pages=79–80}} and the city of Benghazi.{{Cite web |title=U.S. planes bomb Libya, April 15, 1986 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/15/reagan-bomb-libya-april-15-1986-1272788 |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=POLITICO |date=15 April 2019 |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032901/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/15/reagan-bomb-libya-april-15-1986-1272788 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=For Reagan, Gadhafi Was A Frustrating 'Mad Dog' |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/03/04/134228864/for-reagan-gadhafi-was-a-frustrating-mad-dog |access-date=2022-10-10 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032745/https://www.npr.org/2011/03/04/134228864/for-reagan-gadhafi-was-a-frustrating-mad-dog |url-status=live }} At least 30 soldiers and 15 civilians were killed.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_3975000/3975455.stm 1986: US launches air strikes on Libya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720121141/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_3975000/3975455.stm |date=20 July 2011 }}| bbc.co.uk[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-bombs-libya Apr 14, 1986: U.S. bombs Libya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903123315/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-bombs-libya|date=3 September 2018}} This Day in History Gaddafi's adopted infant daughter Hana was reported killed,{{Cite news |last=Flade |first=Florian |date=2011-08-06 |title=Libyscher Clan: Gaddafis Kinder – Totgesagte leben länger |language=de |work=DIE WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article13530021/Gaddafis-Kinder-Totgesagte-leben-laenger.html |access-date=2022-10-10 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032837/https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article13530021/Gaddafis-Kinder-Totgesagte-leben-laenger.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |title=Is Gaddafi's Daughter, Believed Killed by a U.S. Air Strike, Alive and Well? |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088074,00.html |language=en-US |magazine=Time |date=2011-08-12 |via=Die Welt |access-date=2022-10-10 |issn=0040-781X |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228031852/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088074,00.html |url-status=live }} although the claim, and even her existence, have been disputed.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-26 |author-first1=Peter|author-last1=Walker|title=Gaddafi's daughter Hana: dead or a practising doctor? |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/26/hana-gaddafi-daughter-mystery |access-date=2022-10-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613032856/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/26/hana-gaddafi-daughter-mystery |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Flock |first=Elizabeth |date=2011-08-26 |title=Gaddafi's daughter Hana's death in 1986 all a hoax? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/gaddafis-daughter-hanas-death-in-1986-all-a-hoax/2011/08/26/gIQAaUVFgJ_blog.html |access-date=2022-10-10 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108084927/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/gaddafis-daughter-hanas-death-in-1986-all-a-hoax/2011/08/26/gIQAaUVFgJ_blog.html |url-status=live }}
Following the reunification of Germany, archives from the Stasi in East Germany were made available, which led to Libyan embassy worker Musbah Eter, who would later be indicted for aiding and abetting attempted murder.
In 2001, a court in Germany found that the bombing had been "planned by the Libyan secret service and the Libyan Embassy", and convicted four people suspected to be involved with the attack, including two workers at the Libyan embassy in East Germany. However, in their ruling, the court presiding over the trial complained that their decision was hindered by "the limited willingness" of the German and American governments to share intelligence, and the trial was called "murky" by BBC News. Notably, the trial failed to prove the involvement of then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Trial and conviction
In spite of reports blaming Libya for the attack on the nightclub, no individual was officially accused of the bombing until the 1990 reunification of Germany and the subsequent opening up of the Stasi archives. Stasi files led German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis to Musbah Abdulghasem Eter, a Libyan who had worked at the Libyan embassy in East Berlin. Stasi files listed him as an agent, and Mehlis said he was the Libyan spy agency's main contact at the embassy.
Beginning in 1996, a number of suspects were extradited to Germany. Yasser Mohammed Chreidi, a Palestinian man accused of being the plot's "mastermind", was extradited from Lebanon to Germany on May 24 in connection with the bombing. Chreidi was said to be a "suspected activist of the Fatah-Revolutionary Council" headed by Abu Nidal, who used to live in Tripoli and was financed by Libya in the 1980s.{{Cite web |title=Muammar Qaddafi and Libya's Legacy of Terrorism |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/muammar-qaddafi-and-libyas-legacy-of-terrorism/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=FRONTLINE |language=en-US |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613033400/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/muammar-qaddafi-and-libyas-legacy-of-terrorism/ |url-status=live }} Eter was reported to be the Libyan spy agency's point man at the embassy in East Berlin.[https://archive.today/20120722005238/http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/1996/0515/politik/0223/index.html Beirut liefert aus : Textarchiv : Berliner Zeitung Archiv]{{cite web|last=Anker|first=Jens|title=Entschädigung nach 18 Jahren|date=11 August 2004|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/politik/article375400/Entschaedigung_nach_18_Jahren.html|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403225824/http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/politik/article375400/Entschaedigung_nach_18_Jahren.html|url-status=live}}
Eter and four other suspects were arrested in 1996 in Lebanon, Italy, Greece, and Berlin, and put on trial a year later. Eventually, a four year trial in Germany, which ended in 2001, found that the bombing had been "planned by the Libyan secret service and the Libyan Embassy", and convicted four people suspected to be involved with the attack: German citizen Verena Chanaa was found guilty of murder, after carrying a bag with the bomb used for the attack into La Belle; Yasir Shraydi, a Palestinian worker at the Libyan embassy in East Berlin, was convicted of attempted murder; Musbah Eter was found guilty of being an accomplice; Ali Chanaa, Verena Chanaa's ex-husband, was also found guilty. A fifth defendant, Andrea Häusler, who accompanied Verena Chanaa to the club, was acquitted after prosecutors failed to prove she had known that the bomb used in the attack was in Chanaa's bag. Verena Chanaa and Yasir Shraydi were sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Musbah Eter and Ali Chanaa were sentenced to 12 years.{{Cite news |last=Finn |first=Peter |date=2001-11-14 |title=4 Convicted in '86 Berlin Nightclub Bombing |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/11/14/4-convicted-in-86-berlin-nightclub-bombing/677c82cd-05ea-413b-a274-1ce261473384/ |access-date=2022-07-16 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613033219/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/11/14/4-convicted-in-86-berlin-nightclub-bombing/677c82cd-05ea-413b-a274-1ce261473384/ |url-status=live }}
The court found that the three men had assembled the bomb in the Chanaa's flat. The explosive was said to have been brought into West Berlin in a Libyan diplomatic bag.{{cite web|url=http://www.hrr-strafrecht.de/hrr/5/03/5-306-03.php3|title=BGH 5 StR 306/03 – 24. Juni 2004 (LG Berlin) · hrr-strafrecht.de|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-date=24 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124045358/http://www.hrr-strafrecht.de/hrr/5/03/5-306-03.php3|url-status=live}} The court also notably ruled that prosecutors failed to demonstrate involvement in the bombing by Muammar Gaddafi.
Compensation
On 17 August 2003, newspapers reported that Libya had signaled to the German government that it was ready to negotiate compensation for the bombing with lawyers for non-U.S. victims.{{cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/|title=Aktuelle Nachrichten online|first=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|last=GmbH|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-date=18 April 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418173609/https://www.faz.net/|url-status=live}} A year later, on 10 August 2004, Libya concluded an agreement to pay a total of $35 million compensation to non-US citizens.{{cite web|url=http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/politics//new/pol_libya_labelle_2004.html|title=German Missions in the United States – Home|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828235054/http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/politics//new/pol_libya_labelle_2004.html|archive-date=28 August 2008|url-status=dead}}
In October 2008, Libya paid $1.5 billion into a fund to compensate relatives of:
- Lockerbie bombing victims with the remaining 20% of the sum agreed in 2003;
- American victims of the West Berlin discotheque bombing;
- American victims of the 1989 UTA Flight 772 bombing; and,
- Libyan victims of the 1986 US bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7703110.stm
|title=Libya compensates terror victims
|access-date=1 November 2008
|publisher=BBC News
|date=31 October 2008
|archive-date=3 November 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103212038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7703110.stm
|url-status=live
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
External links
{{Commons category|La Belle (Diskothek)}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1653848.stm BBC Flashback: The Berlin disco bombing]
- [http://www.labelletrial.de/start.htm La Belle victims' website]
- [https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/el_dorado_canyon.htm Operation El Dorado Canyon]
- [http://www.afrol.com/News2001/liy002_la_belle.htm 'La Belle' verdict favours Libya]
{{Terrorism in Germany}}
{{Club fires}}
{{Muammar Gaddafi}}
{{Germany–United States relations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berlin discotheque bombing}}
Category:1980s murders in Berlin
Category:1986 in international relations
Category:1986 murders in Germany
Category:1986 building bombings
Category:Cold War history of Berlin
Category:Germany–Libya relations
Category:Libya–United States relations
Category:Terrorism committed by Libya