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The Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (en: Armed Forces of National Liberation or Armed Commandos of Liberation) but better known by its initials in Spanish, FALN, is a Puerto Rican clandestine terrorist group that advocates complete independence for Puerto Rico. FALN was responsible for more than 120 bomb attacks on U.S. targets between 1974 and 1983, but has since calmed down.
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Terrorist incidents by FALN
On December 11, 1974, Angel Poggi, a police officer, lost an eye and was permenantly disabled by one of FALN's bombs at 336 East 110th Street in East Harlem. It was his first day on the job.
On January 24, 1975 FALN, through their Communique No. 3 claimed responsiblity for the bombing of the Fraunces Tavern, killing four people and injuring more than 50. No one was ever prosecuted for the bombing.
On April 3, 1975, FALN takes responsibilty for four bombings in New York City, by leaving their Communique No. 4 for the Associated Press at a phone booth. The four bombs went off within a 40 minute period. The first bomb exploded on 51 Madison Avenue, the New York Life Insurance Company. The second bomb exploded on 45 East Forty-Ninth Street, the Bankers Trust Company plaza. The third bomb exploded on 340 Park Avenue South, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company headquarters. The fourth bomb exploded on 5 West Forty-Sixth Street, the Blimpie Base restaurant. At least five people were injured from the bombings.
On June 9, 1979, FALN exploded a bomb outside of Shubert Theatre in Chicago, injuring five people.
On March 15, 1980, armed members of FALN raided the campaign headquarters of Carter-Mondale in Chicago and the campaign headquarters of George H. W. Bush in New York City. Seven people in Chicago and ten people in New York are tied up as the offices are vandalized before the FALN members flee. A few days later, Carter delegates in Chicago receive threatening letters from FALN. On April 5, 11 members of FALN are arrested for attempting to rob an armored truck at Northwestern University; three are linked to the raid on the Carter-Mondale campaign headquarters.
Famous group members
| Name | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Antonio Camacho Negron | released from imprisonment by Bill Clinton's clemency |
| Filiberto Ojeda Rios | co-founder current leader |
Related topics
External links
- Chronology of FALN activities in the United States (http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/puertorico/faln-chronology.htm)
References
- Mahony, Edmund (1999). Puerto Rican Independence: The Cuban Connection (http://courant.ctnow.com/projects/victor/). The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut (USA).
- Mahony, Edmund (1999). The Untold Tale Of Victor Gerena (http://courant.ctnow.com/projects/victor/victor1.stm). The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut (USA).
- Mickolus, Edward F., Todd Sandler, and Jean M. Murdock (1989). International Terrorism in the 1980s: A Chronology of Events – Volume I: 1980-1983. Iowa State University Press. Ames, Iowa (USA).
- Mickolus, Edward F., Todd Sandler, and Jean M. Murdock (1989). International Terrorism in the 1980s: A Chronology of Events – Volume II: 1984-1987. Iowa State University Press. Ames, Iowa (USA).
- Daniel James (1981). Puerto Rican Terrorists Also Threaten Reagan Assassination. Human Events. United States of America.
- Mickolus, Edward F. (1980) Transnational Terrorism: A Chronology of Events 1968 – 1979. Greenwood Press. Westport, Connecticut.