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| The 80's History Project Terrorism Attacks at Rome & Vienna Airports December 27, 1985 Gunmen belonging to the Abu Nidal Organization, a radical splinter group of the PLO, simultaneously attacked the check-in counters of Israel's El-Al Airlines in the Rome and Vienna Airports. The terrorists lobbed hand grenades and mowed down adults and children alike with automatic weapons. A total of 20 people were killed in both attacks, including three of the four attackers in Rome and one of the three in Vienna. The response to the attacks was far reaching. Autria tried the two surviving gunmen for murder. Italy tried, convicted and sentenced the surviving militant to 30 years in prison. International warrants were issued for Abu Nidal and other memberes of his organization, and Italy tried Nidal in-absentia and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Also, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Libya, claiming they were actively supporting Abu Nidal's terror campaign. Abu Nidal died under mysterious circumstances in Baghdad, Iraq in 2002. |
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| Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal |
| El-Al counter at Rome Airport after the 1985 terrorist attack |