A
terrorist attack targeted the
Besançon courthouse on 9 May 1970.
It was perpetrated with a
bomb
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the Exothermic process, exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-t ...
by two men from
OAS and
UDR movements, in a context of
resurgence of far-right violence in France.
Attack
On 9 May 1970, at 10:30 pm, the ''place du Huit-Septembre'' (September 8 Square) was shaken by an explosion.
[Willy Graff for L'Est Républicain, April 6, 2021 ]
« Savez-vous que Besançon a été frappé d’un attentat en 1970 ? »
The
Besançon courthouse was just attacked
[Christian Bougeard, ''René Pleven - Un Français libre en politique'', 1994, Presses universitaires de Rennes, 473 pages, , page 310.][Hervé Hamon et Patrick Rotman, ''Les années de poudre'' - Volume 2, Auguste 29, 2016, Éditions du Seuil, 704 pages, .] with a
bomb
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the Exothermic process, exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-t ...
containing explosives and scrap metal.
Damage was substantial but limited : only the porch, the bay windows, and the ''salle des pas perdus'' (hall of lost steps), partly
classifieds, were seriously affected.
A couple and their baby narrowly escaped the impact, but no one injuries were reported.
The mayor, the
socialist Jean Minjoz
Jean Minjoz (12 October 1904 - 18 November 1987) was a French politician.
Minjoz was born in Montmélian, but moved to Besançon with his family as a child. He represented the French Section of the Workers' International
The French Section of ...
, immediately condemned this act, while the investigation began.
Witnesses said they saw a man throw a device through, before escaping in an accomplice's car.
At first the attack was attributed to the left
[Dominique Lejeune, ''La peur du rouge en France - Des partageux aux gauchistes'', 2003, Belin, 303 pages, , page 248.] but two individuals were arrested on 14 May with the number of their a
registration plate.
They were former soldiers, workers at the ''Rhodiaceta'' factory, one was a member of the
OAS and the other a member of the
UDR acting for defiant motives possibly related to access to power through the
SAC
SAC or Sac may refer to:
Organizations Education
* Santa Ana College, California, US
* San Antonio College, Texas, US
* St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Canada
* Students' Administrative Council, University of Toronto, Canada
* SISD Student Activiti ...
.
[Bernard Thomas, ''Les provocations policières'', 1972, Fayard, 508 pages, page 385.] The suspects admitted the facts, while weapons and ammunition were found.
See also
*
2005 Planoise Forum fire
*
Saint-Michel cinema attack
On October 22, 1988, an integrist Catholic group set fire to the Saint Michel cinema in Paris while it was showing the film '' The Last Temptation of Christ''. A little after midnight, an incendiary device ignited under a seat in the less supervi ...
References
{{Organisation armée secrète
Far-right politics in France
Organisation armée secrète
Gaullism
Building bombings in France
1970 crimes in France
1970 building bombings
Terrorist incidents in France in 1970
May 1970 events in Europe
History of Besançon
Right-wing terrorist incidents
Crime in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Attacks on government buildings and structures in France