Cablegate: 1989 Annual Terrorism Report for the Uk

P 131721Z FEB 90
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8437

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 03111

S/CT FOR WHARTON

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER UK
SUBJECT: 1989 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT FOR THE UK

REF: STATE 363024

MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 1989
--------------------------------------------- ----
1. THROUGHOUT 1989, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST THREAT TO THE UK AND UK INTERESTS
WERE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OUTLAWED PROVISIONAL IRISH
REPUBLICAN ARMY (PIRA) AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, THE
ACTIVITIES OF OUTLAWED PROTESTANT TERRORIST GROUPS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND. THE CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRELAND
CAUSED THE DEATHS OF 62 PEOPLE IN 1989, INCLUDING 14
MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY FORCES AND 9 POLICEMEN KILLED IN
TERRORIST ATTACKS. PIRA TERRORIST ATTACKS ON TARGETS IN
BRITAIN AND IN MAINLAND EUROPE RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF
AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN UK ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL OR THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS IN 1989.

2. HMG CONTINUED IN 1989 TO DEMAND INFORMATION FROM
LIBYA ABOUT ITS SUPPORT FOR THE PIRA, INCLUDING
DELIVERIES OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPLOSIVES,
ARMAMENTS, AND AMMUNITION IN LARGE QUANTITIES. DESPITE
CONTINUING OCCASIONAL CAPTURES OF PIRA ARMS AND SUPPLIES
IN 1989, THE PIRA WAS BELIEVED STILL TO HAVE ENOUGH
LIBYAN-SUPPLIED ARMS TO SUSTAIN ITS DESTRUCTIVE
TERRORIST CAMPAIGN FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.

3. THE FATWA -- OR DEATH EDICT -- OF IRAN'S AYATOLLAH
KHOMEINI AGAINST THE BRITISH AUTHOR SALMAN RUSHDIE ON 14
FEBRUARY 1989 LED TO WIDESPREAD PUBLIC DISTURBANCES
AMONG ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES IN BRITAIN AND ABROAD. THERE
WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF BOMBINGS OF BOOKSTORES SELLING
RUSHDIE'S BOOK "SATANIC VERSES." THREATS AGAINST
PUBLISHERS AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES REQUIRED POLICE
PROTECTION. UK AUTHORITIES ARRESTED AND DEPORTED 23
IRANIANS ON NATIONAL SECURITY GROUNDS IN 1989.

4. BRITISH POLICE PROVIDED ROUND-THE-CLOCK PROTECTION
FOR SALMAN RUSHDIE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF 1989 TO
PREVENT HIS MURDER BY MUSLIM FANATICS WHO MIGHT SEEK TO
CARRY OUT THE "SENTENCE OF DEATH" AGAINST THE AUTHOR.
HMG OFFICIALS REPEATEDLY MADE CLEAR IN PUBLIC STATEMENTS
TO IRANIAN AUTHORITIES THAT THE UK HELD IRAN DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST BRITISH OR
OTHER NATIONALS AS A RESULT OF THE FATWA.

5. UK AUTHORITIES CONTINUED IN 1989 TO INVESTIGATE THE
BOMBING OF PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT 103 OVER LOCKERBIE,
SCOTLAND IN DECEMBER 1988. THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY FAR-REACHING AND COSTLY BUT HAS RESULTED IN
CONSIDERABLE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURE OF
TERRORIST ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND IN
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN AVIATION SECURITY SYSTEMS
AND PROCEDURES. UK INVESTIGATORS HAVE WORKED CLOSELY ON
THE CASE WITH CRIMINAL SPECIALISTS AND FORENSIC
SCIENTISTS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE FRG, AND OTHER
CONCERNED COUNTRIES. BRITAIN SHARES A POSITION OF
LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD-WIDE EFFORT TO CONCLUDE NEW
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON AVIATION SECURITY, CONTROL
OF EXPLOSIVES, AND THE SHARING OF INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT TERRORIST THREATS TO CIVIL AVIATION.

6. THE UK PROVIDES TRAINING, ADVICE, AND MATERIAL
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO ASSIST THEIR OWN
EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORIST THREATS.

7. THE UK IS ACTIVE IN THE UN, THE EC, AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL FORA IN EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM AND
PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN EFFORTS
TO ISOLATE AND PENALIZE COUNTRIES WHICH SUPPORT TERRORISM.

RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
-------------------------------
8. UK COURTS IN BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND CONTINUED
IN 1989 TO PROSECUTE CASES AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE PIRA
AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE
DISTURBANCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

9. BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT THREAT OF PIRA TERRORIST
ATTACKS IN THE UK, BRITAIN CONTINUED IN 1989 TO EXERCISE
THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF LAW CONTAINED IN THE 1984
PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT. THE ACT, AMONG ITS OTHER
ELEMENTS, ENABLES SPECIAL COURTS TO OPERATE IN NORTHERN
IRELAND DESPITE THE PERSISTENT THREAT OF PIRA TERRORISM
AGAINST JUDGES AND JURIES.

10. THERE ARE OUTSTANDING UK ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST
PIRA TERRORISTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND SEVERAL
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. UK AUTHORITIES CONTINUED IN 1989 TO
COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH OFFICIALS IN IRELAND, BELGIUM,
THE NETHERLANDS, THE FRG, FRANCE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES
DEALING WITH INCIDENTS OF PIRA TERRORISM AND ATTEMPTING
TO ARRANGE EXTRADITION OF PIRA MEMBERS WANTED FOR
TERRORIST ATTACKS.

CATTO

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