The following is a list of terrorist incidents that were not carried out by a state or its forces (see state terrorism and state-sponsored terrorism). Assassinations are presented in List of assassinations and unsuccessful attempts at List of people who survived assassination attempts and List of heads of state and government who survived assassination attempts.

Definitions of terrorism vary, so incidents listed here are restricted to those that are notable and described as "terrorism" by a consensus of reliable sources.

Scholars dispute what might be called terrorism in earlier periods. The modern sense of terrorism emerged in the mid-19th century.

1800–1899

DateTypeDeadInjuredLocationDetailsPerpetratorPart of
1865–1877MurdersApprox. 3,000SeveralUnited States Southern United StatesApproximately 3,000 Freedmen and their Republican Party allies are killed in well-organized campaigns of violence by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists in a campaign of terrorist violence that weakened the reconstructionist governments in the Southern United States and helped re-establish legitimized segregation.Ku Klux KlanReconstruction Era
1878–1885Bombings, arson, shootings05 (4 heavy)France Montceau-les-Mines region, FranceMontceau-les-Mines troubles. After the repression of a miner's strike, groups of numerous anarchist and inspired by anarchism miners organized themselves into the Black Band(s) and carried out dozens of acts of propaganda of the deed in the following years, the majority between 1882 and 1885.Black Band(s)Anti-authoritarian International (?)propaganda of the deed
16 Jun 1881Bombing00France Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceAn anarchist 'French Revolutionary Committee' placed bombs in small boxes around the statue of Adolphe Thiers – a significant political figure and responsible for the massacres of the Paris Commune ten years prior. The bombs encountered technical issues. First clear propaganda of the deed attack in France.French anarchists
1881–18850 (+3)98United Kingdom United KingdomFenian dynamite campaign.Irish Republican Brotherhood
23 Oct 1882110+France Lyon, FranceAssommoir bombing. First deadly anarchist attack in France.Fanny Madignier and 2 other anarchistspropaganda of the deed
5 March 188601France Paris, FranceParis Stock Exchange bombing. A French anarchist entered the Paris Stock Exchange, threw a bomb that didn't explode, and began firing at traders.Charles Gallo
4 May 18867 (+4)160+United States Chicago, United StatesHaymarket Affair. A peaceful rally in Haymarket, Chicago, Illinois, was disrupted when a bomb was detonated as police were dispersing the public demonstration.[citation needed]FOTLUpropaganda of the deed or state terrorism
5-6 July 188700France Paris, FranceBerthe bombing. The store of a landlord in conflict with anarchists explodes in the middle of the night.Paolo Chiericotti (?) – Vittorio Pini (?) – Intransigents of London and Paris (?)propaganda of the deed
1888–18891Anarchist bombing campaign of 1888–1889 targeting employment agencies at night (in order to avoid civilian casualties)Placide Schouppe (?) – Intransigents of London and Paris (?)
29 Feb 18920An anarchist in France bombs an elite residence in the Rue Saint Dominique.Anarchist in FranceÈre des attentats
7 Mar 18921Saint-Germain bombing. Start of the Ère des attentats.Ravachol, Cookie, Mariette, Béala
15 Mar 18920Lobau bombing.Théodule Meunier
27 Mar 18927French anarchist Ravachol bombs the house of prosecutor Bulot, after the trial of the accused of the Clichy Affair.Ravachol, Cookie, Mariette, Béala
25 Apr 189221French anarchists Meunier, François and Bricout bomb the café Le Very, targeting the owner, who denounced Ravachol to the police. He is killed in the explosion.Pieds plats
8 Nov 189250French anarchists Émile Henry and Adrienne Chailliey bomb a police station.Émile Henry, Adrienne Chailliey
7 Nov 189320–3027–35Spain Barcelona, SpainCatalan anarchist Santiago Salvador bombs the Liceu theater. Considered the first instance of 'indiscriminate terrorism'. Founding event for modern terrorism.Santiago Salvadorpropaganda of the deed
13 Nov 1893Stabbing01France Paris, FranceFrench anarchist Léon Léauthier stabs one Rista Georgevitch simply because he 'looked bourgeois'. Considered one of the first instances of 'indiscriminate terrorism'. Founding event for modern terrorism.Léon LéauthierÈre des attentats
9 Dec 1893Bombing20National Assembly bombing. 0 deaths and dozens of lightly injured people.Auguste Vaillant
12 Feb 1894117French anarchist Émile Henry bombs Café Terminus. Considered one of the first instances of 'indiscriminate terrorism'.Émile Henry
20 Feb 1894Bombings1Belgian anarchist Pauwels attacks the authorities in the 20 February bombings.Désiré Pauwels
15 Mar 1894Bombing0Belgian anarchist Pauwels attacks the Madeleine church in the Madeleine bombing. He dies during the attempt.Désiré Pauwels
4 Apr 189404+Either the French or the Russian states commit a provocation by bombing a restaurant in Paris, trying to capitalize on the troubles of the Ère des attentats.French state or Okhrana
19 May 1894Stabbing1France Marseille, France1894 Marseille stabbing by French anarchist Célestin Nat to avenge Henry.Célestin Nat
26 Aug 1896Hijacking10+0Ottoman Empire Constantinople, Ottoman EmpireOccupation of the Ottoman Bank by Armenian Revolutionary Federation members in protest of the Hamidian massacres. A resulting anti-Armenian pogrom killed around 6,000 individuals.Armenian Revolutionary Federation

1900–1929

DateTypeDeadInjuredLocationDetailsPerpetratorPart of
28 April – 1 May 1903Bombings0 (+4)Ottoman Empire Thessaloniki, Ottoman EmpireMembers of the Boatmen of Thessaloniki, a Bulgarian anarchist group, carried out a series of bombings in Thessaloniki.Boatmen of Thessaloniki
18 May 1904Kidnapping02 kidnappedMorocco Tangier, MoroccoPerdicaris affair: Ion Perdicaris and Cromwell Varley were kidnapped and held for ransom by bandit Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli in Morocco.Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli
1 February 1905Bombing2France Paris, FranceA bomb is sent towards the Republican Guard during an anti-Tsarist leftist protest. Jean-Pierre François, who was near the explosion, was arrested, but was freed for failure to provide proofs.Jean-Pierre François (?) (Freed and not convicted)
31 May 190521Rohan bombing. 24 people injured when a Catalan anarchist (?) bombed Alfonso XIII of Spain.Aviño/Alexandre Farras (?)
21 July 19052158Ottoman Empire Constantinople, Ottoman EmpireAbdul Hamid II assassination attempt in Yıldız. A group composed of Armenian revolutionaries (Sophie Areshian, Martiros Margarian) and anarchists (Edward Joris, Anna Nellens) tries to bomb sultan Abdul Hamid II.Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) / Anarchists
31 May 190624SeveralSpain Madrid, SpainMorral affair. 24 people were killed when terrorist bombed the Royal Couple, Alfonso XIII of Spain and Victoria Eugenie, on their wedding day.Mateo del Morral
25 August 190628SeveralRussian Empire Aptekarsky Island, Russia28 people were killed when three terrorists bombed a reception in an attempt to assassinate Pyotr Stolypin.Union of Socialists-Revolutionaries-Maximalists
11–12 July 1908123Sweden Malmö, SwedenNight between 11 and 12 July: Bombing of the boat Amalthea where British strikebreakers lived by Anton Nilsson One was killed and 23 wounded.Anton Nilsson
1 October 191021105+United States Los Angeles, United StatesLos Angeles Times bombing killed 21 people and wounded over 100 others.John J. McNamara and James B. McNamara
28 June 1914Various216–22Austria-Hungary Sarajevo, Austria-HungaryThe Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austrian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. As the Archduke's car approached the third assassin after the others failed to act, the bomb bounced off the Archduke's car and exploded the car behind him, injuring 16–20 people. Later, as the Archduke's car turned a wrong corner, assassin Gavrilo Princip shot dead the Archduke and his wife in their car. This resulted in the July Crisis, and World War I.Gavrilo Princip (with the Black Hand)Prelude to World War I
22 July 1916Bombing1040United States San Francisco, United StatesPreparedness Day Bombing was a bombing in San Francisco, California, on 22 July 1916, when the city held a parade in anticipation of the United States' entry into World War I. During the parade, a suitcase bomb was detonated, killing ten and wounding forty.Galleanist Anarchists (suspected)
30 July 19167HundredsUnited States Jersey City, United StatesBlack Tom explosion was a planned detonation of a munitions factory at Black Tom Island in the neutral United States by Imperial German Agents that killed four and injured hundreds, as well as causing millions of dollars in damages.Imperial German AgentsWorld War I
16 September 192040143+United States New York City, United StatesWall Street bombing killed 40 people and wounded over 143 others.Galleanist Anarchists (suspected)Red Scare
14 October 1920Bombings110Italy Trieste, ItalyIn Trieste, nationalists threw six bombs at the editorial office of a socialist newspaper, resulting in one death and ten injuries.Italian Nationalists
15 October 192002Italy Milan, ItalyIn Milan, anarchists were responsible for throwing two bombs at a hotel holding a British delegation attending the Milan International Conference; there were two injuries.Anarchists
8 December 1920Bombing33Romania Bucharest, RomaniaA bomb placed by a left-wing terrorist group blows up in the Romanian Senate, killing the Minister of Justice and two other senators. The President of the Senate and two Orthodox bishops were severely injured.Max Goldstein, Leon Lichtblau and Saul Ozias
31 May 1921Riot39–300800+United States Tulsa, United StatesThe Tulsa race riot killed at least 39 people and injured over 800.Ku Klux Klan
13 December 1921Bombing100Romania Bolgrad, RomaniaThe Bolgrad palace bombing occurred when a bomb thrown by Bessarabian separatists at the Bolgrad palace, killed 100 soldiers and police officers.Bessarabian separatistsUnion of Bessarabia with Romania
31 October 1923Shooting1
16 April 1925Bombing150~500Bulgaria Sofia, BulgariaSt Nedelya Church assault – The Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) blew up the church's roof during the funeral service of General Konstantin Georgiev, who had been killed in a previous Communist assault on 14 April. 150 people, mainly from the country's political and military elite, were killed in the attack and around 500 were injured.Bulgarian Communist Party

1930–1949

DateTypeDeadInjuredLocationDetailsPerpetratorPart of
9 October 1934Assassination by shooting2 (+1)France Marseille, FranceDuring a state visit to France, King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was fatally shot by the Bulgarian IMRO assassin Vlado Chernozemski. In the ensuing scuffle with local police, French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou was accidentally killed by a stray bullet, while Chernozemski was beaten and later died from his injuries.Vlado Chernozemski (on behalf of IMRO)
3 March 1940Arson55Sweden Luleå, SwedenPolitically motivated arson attack targeted at the communist newspaper Norrskensflamman (Northern Flame) by various perpetrators. 5 people were killed, 2 of which were children, along with 5 others injured.Norrbottens-Kuriren
4 July 1940Bombing20United States New York City, United StatesTime bomb is recovered from the British Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair, two NYPD policemen were killed.Unknown
1940–1956Serial bombings015United States New York City, United StatesGeorge Metesky, the "Mad Bomber", places over 30 bombs in New York City in public places such as Grand Central Terminal and The Paramount Theater, injuring ten during this period, in protest against the local electric utility. He also sends many threatening letters.George Metesky
22 July 1946Bombing9146Mandatory Palestine Jerusalem, Mandatory PalestineThe King David Hotel bombing by Zionist paramilitary group Irgun kills 91 and injures 46 non-fatally.IrgunJewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine
25 July 1947Airliner hijacking10Romania RomaniaThree Romanian terrorists kill an aircrew member aboard a Romanian airliner. This is regarded as the first aircraft hijack resulting in a fatality.[citation needed]Unknown
22 February 1948Car bombings58123Mandatory Palestine Jerusalem, Mandatory PalestineBen Yehuda Street bombings: three British Army trucks led by an armoured car driven by Arab irregulars and British deserters exploded on Ben Yehuda Street killing 58 Jewish civilians and injuring 140.Arab insurgents and rogue British soldiers1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine
7 May 1949Airliner bombing130Philippines PhilippinesThirteen people are killed as a Philippine airliner explodes in flight travelling from Daet to Manila. A time bomb detonates 30 minutes after departure near Alabat Island.Unknown
5 August 1949Grenade attack12~30Syria Damascus, Syria12 killed and dozens injured in the Menarsha synagogue attack.Arab Redemption Suicide Phalange1948 Palestine war

1950–1969

DateTypeDeadInjuredLocationDetailsPerpetratorPart of
17 March 1954Shooting122Israel Scorpions Pass, IsraelMa'ale Akrabim massacre: an Israeli civilian passenger bus is attacked by unknown assailants at the Scorpions Pass in the Negev, resulting in the deaths of eleven passengers.Palestinian fedayeenPalestinian Fedayeen insurgency
16 June 1955Bombing308~1200Argentina Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBombing of Plaza de Mayo: Thirty aircraft from the Argentine Navy and Air Force bombed and strafed Plaza de Mayo. The attack targeted the adjacent Casa Rosada, the seat of government of former president Juan Perón.Anti-Peronist elements of the Argentine Armed Forces1955 Argentine coup d'état
16 June 195616Nicosia, British CyprusThe United States vice consul is killed and six other consulate staff are injured when a terrorist throws 2 bombs in a restaurant in Nicosia.UnknownCyprus Emergency
15 August 1958310Lebanon Beirut, LebanonThree people are killed in a bomb blast in Beirut. The bombing also injures ten more at a grocery store near the Lebanese Parliament.Unknown1958 Lebanon crisis
22 November 1962Riot2 (+5)?South Africa Paarl, South AfricaMembers of the Pan Africanist Congress' military wing, the Azanian People's Liberation Army (also known as Poqo) targeted the town of Paarl in the Western Cape, when a crowd of over 200 people armed with axes, pangas and other home-made weapons marched from the Mbekweni township into Paarl and attacked the police station, homes and shops. Two white residents and 5 attackers were killed. Poqo directed its activities at the white population in general. It was also Poqo's avowed policy to attack and kill black people who were some way or another linked to the apartheid state.PAC (APLA)Internal resistance to apartheid
29 August 1963Bank robbery23Argentina Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe Tacuara Nationalist Movement robbed a bank, stealing almost 100,000 US dollars. 2 people died and 3 were injured.Tacuara Nationalist Movement
15 September 1963Bombing422United States Birmingham, United States16th Street Baptist Church bombing – Four members of the Ku Klux Klan planted at least 15 sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device beneath the front steps of the church. The explosion killed 4 girls and wounded 22.Ku Klux KlanCivil rights movement
1963–19708?Canada Quebec, CanadaFront de libération du Québec (FLQ) committed frequent bombings targeting English businesses and banks, as well as McGill University. The whole bombing campaign resulted in 8 known deaths and numerous injuries.Front de libération du QuébecQuebec sovereignty movement
26 June 1965Bombings4280South Vietnam Saigon, South VietnamTwo simultaneous explosions took place near a restaurant in the 1965 Saigon bombing during the Vietnam War. The attack killed 42 people and 80 were wounded.Viet CongVietnam War
1966Riots and massacres8,000 to 30,000?Nigeria Northern Region, NigeriaThe 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom was a series of massacres committed against Igbos and other people of southern Nigerian origin living in northern Nigeria starting in May 1966 and reaching a peak after 29 September 1966. Between 8,000 and 30,000 Igbos and easterners have been estimated to have been killed. A further 1 million Igbos fled the Northern Region into the East. These events led to the secession of the eastern Nigerian region and the declaration of the Republic of Biafra, which ultimately led to the Nigeria-Biafra war.Racist mobs1966 Nigerian coup d'état
28–29 September 1966Airliner hijacking00Argentina and Falkland IslandsAerolíneas Argentinas Flight 648 hijacking: a group of militant Argentine nationalists hijacked a civilian Aerolineas Argentinas aircraft while flying over Puerto Santa Cruz and forced the captain at gunpoint to land in the Falkland Islands, where they took several civilians hostage. The crisis was resolved 36 hours later when the hijackers agreed to release their hostages and return to Argentina for trial.Argentine nationalist militantsFalkland Islands sovereignty dispute
12 October 1967Airliner bombing660GreeceA bomb explodes on board Cyprus Airways Flight 284 near Rhodes killing all 66 people on the aircraft.Unknown
4 September 1968Bombings151Israel Tel Aviv, IsraelThree bombs are detonated in Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring 51 people.Palestine Liberation OrganizationIsraeli–Palestinian conflict
21–25 February 1969220Israel Jerusalem, Israel1969 Jerusalem bombings: Three separate bombings in Jerusalem, one in a supermarket and two in the British Consulate. In the supermarket bombing two Israelis were killed, and in all attacks 20 were injured. One of the bombers involved was Rasmea Odeh.PLO (PFLP)
5 August 1969Bombing00Republic of Ireland Dublin, IrelandA bomb was detonated in Dublin at the main studio of the state broadcaster, RTÉ. The Ulster Volunteer Force was responsible. No one was injured.Ulster Volunteer ForceThe Troubles
19 October 1969Attempted bombing0 (+1)Republic of Ireland Ballyshannon, IrelandA UPV bomber attacked a power station in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. The bomb exploded prematurely as it was being planted, resulting in no casualties other than the attacker. The UVF issued a statement saying the attempted attack was a protest against the Irish Army units "still massed on the border in County Donegal". The statement added: "so long as the threats from Éire continue, so long will the volunteers of Ulster's people's army strike at targets in Southern Ireland".Ulster Protestant Volunteers
31 October 1969Bombing0Republic of Ireland Dublin, IrelandThe Ulster Volunteer Force bombed a monument in Bodenstown, Dublin, dedicated to the Irish Republican hero Wolfe Tone. There were no injuries.Ulster Volunteer Force
12 December 1969Bombings17104Italy Milan and Rome, ItalyPiazza Fontana bombing in Milan kills at least 17 people and injures at least 88. Three additional blasts occur in Rome, injuring 16 people.Ordine NuovoYears of Lead
26 December 1969Bombing00Republic of Ireland Dublin, IrelandThe Ulster Volunteer Force bombed the O'Connell Monument in Dublin. There were no injuries but buildings were damaged in a half mile radius.Ulster Volunteer ForceThe Troubles
28 December 1969The Ulster Volunteer Force detonated a bomb outside the Garda central detective bureau in Dublin. The nearby telephone exchange headquarters is suspected to have been the target.

1970–present

Number of terrorist incidents worldwide

By country

Terrorism deaths per year by country

See also

State terrorism Domestic terrorism Communist terrorism Cyberterrorism Economic terrorism Environmental terrorism Left-wing terrorism Misogynist terrorism Narcoterrorism Nuclear terrorism Right-wing terrorism Religious terrorism Buddhist terrorism Christian terrorism Hindu terrorism Islamic terrorism Jewish terrorism Sikh terrorism (Khalistan movement)Number of terrorist incidents by country List of major terrorist incidents List of aircraft hijackings List of assassinations List of bus attacks List of designated terrorist groups List of hostage crises List of mass car bombings Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents List of marauding terrorist incidents List of non-international armed conflicts (civil wars) List of ongoing armed conflicts

Bibliography

  • Bouhey, Vivien (2008), Les Anarchistes contre la République [The Anarchists against the Republic] (in French), Rennes: Presses universitaires de Rennes (PUR), ISBN 9782753507272

External links

  • : Timeline of Terrorist Acts – Chronology
  • Thinkquest:
  • Infoplease:
  • Infoplease: (within the United States or against Americans abroad)
  • Frontline :
  • Chronology of significant plots uncovered in Europe both before and after 9/11. January 2004
  • Listing anarchist terrorist incidents in France, or others countries. In French.