1974 French Embassy attack in The Hague
On Friday, September 13, 1974, three members of the Japanese Red Army stormed the French Embassy in The Hague, allegedly on Fusaku Shigenobu's orders. The ambassador and ten other people were taken hostage. A few minutes later, three policeman stormed the embassy and where immediately caught under fire. Two cops were injured due to the gunfire and the other opened fire.
Demands
The Red Army demanded the release of Red Army member Yoshiaki Yamada (also known as Yatsuka Furuya), including one million dollars and the use of a French airplane. Due to the position off the building itself, the Dutch authorities choose to negotiate for the release of the hostage instead of mounting a rescue operation.
Safe conduct
After lengthy negotiations, the hostages were freed in exchange for 300.000 USD. The plane flew the hostage-takers to Aden, South Yemen, where they were reject. It then brought them to Syria. Syria did not consider hostage taking for money revolutionary, and forced them to give up their ransom.
Budget Day
Budget Day (Dutch: prinsjesdag) was on the same day. That is why the Dutch government choose for a sober moment. The traditional ride in the Golden Coach did not happen. Two of the three members who allegedly attacked the embassy, Haruo Wako and Jun Nishikawa have been detained and extradited to Japan. They are now on trial and have said Shigenobu was involved in the Hague attack.
The other member, Junzo Okudaira, is still at large.
In popular culture
This event was featured in the 2010 biopic miniseries Carlos about the terrorist Carlos the Jackal (Ilich Ramírez Sánchez).
References
- http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/andere-tijden/afleveringen/2003-2004/Gijzeling-Franse-ambassade.html
- http://www.boekenwebsite.nl/geschiedenis/de-gijzeling
- http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20001202a6.html
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