terrorist attack Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war a ...

targeted the

Besançon Besançon (, ; , ; archaic ; ) is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerland. Capi ...

courthouse on 9 May 1970. It was perpetrated with a

bomb A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...

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 ''L'Est Républicain'' (; ) is a daily regional French newspaper based in Nancy, France. ''L'Est Républicain'' was established in 1889 by Léon Goulette, a French Republican. The newspaper was founded on the grounds of ''anti- Boulangisme'' ...

, April 6, 2021
« Savez-vous que Besançon a été frappé d’un attentat en 1970 ? »
The

courthouse was just attackedChristian 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

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 Classified advertising is a form of advertising, particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals, which may be sold or distributed free of charge. Classified advertisements are much cheaper than larger display advertisements use ...

, were seriously affected. A couple and their baby narrowly escaped the impact, but no one injuries were reported. The mayor, the

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

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 (SFIO) in the Constituen ...

, 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 leftDominique 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 A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British, Indian and Australian English), license plate (American English) or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for ...

. 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.Bernard Thomas, ''Les provocations policières'', 1972, Fayard, 508 pages, page 385. The suspects admitted the facts, while weapons and ammunition were found.

References

{{Organisation armée secrète Neo-fascist terrorist incidents in France Organisation armée secrète Gaullism Building bombings in France 1970 building bombings Terrorist incidents in France in 1970 May 1970 in Europe History of Besançon Crime in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Attacks on government buildings and structures in France Attacks on courthouses

Attack

See also

References