9 Sporting Events Impacted by Terrorism by: Esteban On Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Tags: Boston Marathon Boston Marathon Bombing Terror Attacks Terrorism Tragedy As tragic as the events were that unfolded at the Boston Marathon on Monday, this was not the first time a major sporting event has been negatively impacted by an act of terrorism. In fact, this wasn’t even the first time a marathon had been impacted by an act of terrorism. All across the globe, sport unites and inspires. Thus, unfortunately, it will always be a target for evil people looking to inflict pain, division, and turmoil. Today, while we remember and pray for all those still suffering as a result of the tragic bombings in Boston, let’s also remember some of the others who have suffered as the result of terrorist attacks on sporting events. As tragic as the events were that unfolded at the Boston Marathon on Monday, this was not the first time a major sporting event has been negatively impacted by an act of terrorism. In fact, this wasn’t even the first time a marathon had been impacted by an act of terrorism. All across the globe, sport unites and inspires.

Thus, unfortunately, it will always be a target for evil people looking to inflict pain, division, and turmoil. Today, while we remember and pray for all those still suffering as a result of the tragic bombings in Boston, let’s also remember some of the others who have suffered as the result of terrorist attacks on sporting events. The Grand National is the most prestigious horse race in England and, with a prize in 2013 of $1.5 million, the most lucrative race in Europe. The steeplechase is normally run on the first Saturday in April; however, in 1997 the race was postponed for two days after two separate bomb threats were called in by the IRA. Fortunately no bombs were ever detonated, but police did have to evacuate 60,000 fans, jockeys, horses, and race track staff. And since the police obviously could not allow any cars to leave the premises, about 20,000 out-of-towners were left stranded and had to be taken in by local Liverpool residents. 9.

Grand National Bomb Scare (1997) The Grand National is the most prestigious horse race in England and, with a prize in 2013 of $1.5 million, the most lucrative race in Europe. The steeplechase is normally run on the first Saturday in April; however, in 1997 the race was postponed for two days after two separate bomb threats were called in by the IRA. Fortunately no bombs were ever detonated, but police did have to evacuate 60,000 fans, jockeys, horses, and race track staff. And since the police obviously could not allow any cars to leave the premises, about 20,000 out-of-towners were left stranded and had to be taken in by local Liverpool residents. In 2002, just a few hours before Real Madrid was to host arch rival Barcelona in a Champions League semifinal match, a car bomb exploded outside Madrid’s famous Bernabéu Stadium. Fortunately only 17 people were injured by the blast and no one was killed, but one would have to think the bomb was supposed to go off as people were filing into the stadium.

Eleven people were eventually arrested, all members of the Batasuna, a group linked to the Basque separatist group ETA. UEFA allowed the game to go on as scheduled, by the way, which was a questionable decision. Luckily the game went down without a hitch. 8. Bombing at Bernabéu (2002) In 2002, just a few hours before Real Madrid was to host arch rival Barcelona in a Champions League semifinal match, a car bomb exploded outside Madrid’s famous Bernabéu Stadium. Fortunately only 17 people were injured by the blast and no one was killed, but one would have to think the bomb was supposed to go off as people were filing into the stadium. Eleven people were eventually arrested, all members of the Batasuna, a group linked to the Basque separatist group ETA. UEFA allowed the game to go on as scheduled, by the way, which was a questionable decision. Luckily the game went down without a hitch. The Iraqi Olympic team was the target of not one but three separate terrorist attacks in 2006.

First, on May 17, 15 athletes and staff members of the taekwondo team were kidnapped while traveling to a competition in Jordan and never seen or heard from again. Then, on May 26, gunmen killed the Iraqi tennis coach and two players. And finally, on July 15, the head of the Iraqi Olympic Committee was kidnapped along with 37 athletes and officials. Only 13 of them were ever released. 7. Iraqi Olympic Team (2006) The Iraqi Olympic team was the target of not one but three separate terrorist attacks in 2006. First, on May 17, 15 athletes and staff members of the taekwondo team were kidnapped while traveling to a competition in Jordan and never seen or heard from again. Then, on May 26, gunmen killed the Iraqi tennis coach and two players. And finally, on July 15, the head of the Iraqi Olympic Committee was kidnapped along with 37 athletes and officials. Only 13 of them were ever released. The Togo national soccer team united their small West African nation by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time ever in 2006.

Sadly, just four years later, this same team was attacked by terrorists while riding in their team bus en route to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations. On January 8, 2010, a dozen heavily armed Angolan separatist guerillas opened fire on the bus, killing three people (none of them players) and wounding nine. Obviously, the team did not end up competing in the competition. 6. Togo Soccer Team (2010) The Togo national soccer team united their small West African nation by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time ever in 2006. Sadly, just four years later, this same team was attacked by terrorists while riding in their team bus en route to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations. On January 8, 2010, a dozen heavily armed Angolan separatist guerillas opened fire on the bus, killing three people (none of them players) and wounding nine. Obviously, the team did not end up competing in the competition. Just under a year before the Togo national soccer team was attacked in Angola, the Sri Lankan national cricket team was targeted in a very similar attack in Pakistan.

En route to a match against Pakistan, the team bus was ambushed by 12 gunmen outside the stadium in Lahore. Eight people were killed in the firefight (six police officers and two civilians) while nine others (six players, two staffers, and an umpire) were injured. It’s believed a militant group associated with Al-Qaeda carried out the attack. India had originally been scheduled to play the match, but they withdrew because of security concerns following the Mumbai bombings the previous year. The team from Sri Lanka agreed to take their place, but, sadly, India’s fears proved to be well-founded. 5. Sri Lankan Cricket Team (2009) Just under a year before the Togo national soccer team was attacked in Angola, the Sri Lankan national cricket team was targeted in a very similar attack in Pakistan. En route to a match against Pakistan, the team bus was ambushed by 12 gunmen outside the stadium in Lahore. Eight people were killed in the firefight (six police officers and two civilians) while nine others (six players, two staffers, and an umpire) were injured. It’s believed a militant group associated with Al-Qaeda carried out the attack.

India had originally been scheduled to play the match, but they withdrew because of security concerns following the Mumbai bombings the previous year. The team from Sri Lanka agreed to take their place, but, sadly, India’s fears proved to be well-founded. The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 was not the first time a visiting cricket team had been attacked by terrorists inside Pakistan. On May 8, 2002, a suicide bomber struck the hotel where the New Zealand cricket team was staying during a tour of Pakistan. No New Zealand players were hurt, but the blast killed 14 people, including the host team’s physiotherapist. The team obviously called off the tour and returned home. 4. New Zealand Cricket Team (2002) The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 was not the first time a visiting cricket team had been attacked by terrorists inside Pakistan. On May 8, 2002, a suicide bomber struck the hotel where the New Zealand cricket team was staying during a tour of Pakistan. No New Zealand players were hurt, but the blast killed 14 people, including the host team’s physiotherapist.

The team obviously called off the tour and returned home. On April 6, 2008, the world witnessed a bombing at a marathon far more deadly than the one witnessed in Boston on Monday, April 15, 2013. At the start of the Sri Lankan New Years Marathon, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber detonated an explosive device that killed 15 people, including a dozen athletes, and injured almost 100 others—all while spectators looked on in horror in person and on television. 3. Sri Lanka New Years Marathon (2008) On April 6, 2008, the world witnessed a bombing at a marathon far more deadly than the one witnessed in Boston on Monday, April 15, 2013. At the start of the Sri Lankan New Years Marathon, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber detonated an explosive device that killed 15 people, including a dozen athletes, and injured almost 100 others—all while spectators looked on in horror in person and on television. Until the 2013 Boston Marathon, this was the most famous act of terrorism inflicted on a sporting event held in the United States.

On July 27, 1996, one week after the start of the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park just after midnight during a free outdoor concert. Two people were killed—one directly from the explosion, another from a heart attack—and 120 others were injured. The devastation could have been a whole lot worse had it not been for the actions of security guard Richard Jewell. He discovered the bomb just before detonation and managed to clear people from the area. Sadly, the hero was initially labeled as a suspect by the FBI and the media, but he was later completely exonerated. The real perpetrator was a former U.S. Army explosives expert named Eric Rudolph. He believed that “the conception and purpose of the so-called Olympic movement is to promote the values of global socialism,” so he decided to take matters into his own deranged hands. 2. Olympic Park Bombing (1996) Until the 2013 Boston Marathon, this was the most famous act of terrorism inflicted on a sporting event held in the United States.

On July 27, 1996, one week after the start of the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park just after midnight during a free outdoor concert. Two people were killed—one directly from the explosion, another from a heart attack—and 120 others were injured. The devastation could have been a whole lot worse had it not been for the actions of security guard Richard Jewell. He discovered the bomb just before detonation and managed to clear people from the area. Sadly, the hero was initially labeled as a suspect by the FBI and the media, but he was later completely exonerated. The real perpetrator was a former U.S. Army explosives expert named Eric Rudolph. He believed that “the conception and purpose of the so-called Olympic movement is to promote the values of global socialism,” so he decided to take matters into his own deranged hands. The worst act of terrorism ever perpetrated at a sporting event is the one carried at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich by Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. They stormed the athletes village on September 5 and took members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage.

After a 16-hour standoff and a botched rescue attempt, the terrorists slaughtered 11 athletes and coaches plus one German police officer. The Games were temporarily suspended, and a memorial service was held on September 6. However, following the tragedy a number of Olympic contingents left Munich early—most notably the Israelis and the Egyptians, who feared reprisals. Interestingly, the IOC President at the time, Avery Brundage, did not even mention the murdered athletes in his speech at the memorial service. This oversite foreshadowed another IOC blunder 40 years later in London, when the IOC decided not to do anything to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy at the 2012 Summer Games. 1. Munich Massacre (1972) The worst act of terrorism ever perpetrated at a sporting event is the one carried at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich by Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. They stormed the athletes village on September 5 and took members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage. After a 16-hour standoff and a botched rescue attempt, the terrorists slaughtered 11 athletes and coaches plus one German police officer.

The Games were temporarily suspended, and a memorial service was held on September 6. However, following the tragedy a number of Olympic contingents left Munich early—most notably the Israelis and the Egyptians, who feared reprisals. Interestingly, the IOC President at the time, Avery Brundage, did not even mention the murdered athletes in his speech at the memorial service. This oversite foreshadowed another IOC blunder 40 years later in London, when the IOC decided not to do anything to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy at the 2012 Summer Games. Vigilance at Major Sporting Events | Phoenix Risk Assessment - Private Security | Personal Protection | Investigative | Staff Training | Advanced Needs Employment Opportunities Vigilance at Major Sporting Events The world as a whole is no stranger to holding major sporting events throughout the year and this time of year is no exception. Stateside we recently had the World Series, the New York City Marathon and the Breeder’s Cup to name a few. Fortunately those events went off without any incidents, but that is not always the case for all major sporting events. The most recent sporting event that was hit by terrorism was the Boston Marathon on April 15th of this year.

This is not the first sporting event hit by terrorism, but it did change the footprint of security for major sporting events. Because of the Boston marathon bombing, the London Marathon held days after the Boston Marathon increased their MET presence and altered their security plan. New York also took into account what happened in Boston when the 2013 New York Marathon took place this past weekend. NYPD were out in droves and they had over 1,500 cameras installed along the route as well as baggage screeners and surveillance helicopters on hand to ensure the safety of the runners and spectators. Boston also proved that the marathon still left an imprint on their city and their city’s security efforts when they hosted Major League Baseball’s 2013 World Series. For the World Series, Boston PD increased their police presence as well as added 14 officers trained to recognize and dismantle bombs. Boston’s planning paid off, there were no issues during the World Series and the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals. Terrorist attacks at major sporting events are not limited to the United States, they are happening all over the world. In 2010, Togo’s Men’s National Soccer lost three individuals to a terrorist attack on their team bus.

In 2002, a car bomb went off outside of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final injuring six. In 1996, the Atlanta Summer Olympics were rocked by terrorism when a bomb went off in Centennial Olympic Park killing 2 and injuring 111 people. Because of all these events, security at major sporting events has changed forever. Russia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are gearing up for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and have promised security is at the top of their priority list. Brazil has also stated that they are creating strategic security plans and measures for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The increase in security does not just stop with the host countries and organizations, it is also the fans and spectators’ responsibility to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Phoenix Risk Assessment suggests the following when attending a major sporting event: Research the venue online well before attending the event Be aware of any venue restrictions such as no coolers or bags over a certain size Once at the event, take note of emergency exits If you notice an individual or group that is acting outside of the norm, alert the authorities, do not approach them Take notice of any bags, backpacks or packages that are left unattended. Again, alert the authorities and do not investigate the bag yourself Plan your method of transportation. If you are taking public transit, plan for alternate routes. If you are driving yourself, plan your parking strategy and park in a well lit and safe area The overall goal is for fans to be able to enjoy their favorite past-times without the fear of a terrorist attack. Thankfully, host cities and organizations are taking note and making security and vigilance a top priority. 10 sporting events marred by terrorism - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 10 sporting events marred by terrorism By Emily Benammar Following two fatal explosions at the Boston Marathon, we look back at moments in sporting history when events have been marred by terrorism.

Munich Olympics, 1972: The 1972 attack is globally recognised as the darkest day in Olympic history. During the Games in Munich, Palestinian militant group Black September took members of the Israeli national team hostage and, after a 16-hour siege, killed 11 athletes and coaches together with one German police officer. The aftermath marked the first time in Olympic history that competition was suspended in order for a memorial service to be held in the Olympic Stadium. Atlanta Olympics, July 27 1996: During an evening music concert at the Centennial Olympic Park, a bomb was detonated, killing two people and injuring more than 100 others. The bomb was planted by a man called Eric Rudolph - a former explosives expert for the US army - who believed the Olympics "promoted the values of global socialism". Rudolph is currently serving four life sentences with no chance of parole. The Olympics went on as planned. External Link: Atlanta Olympics bombing Grand National, April 5 1997: England's most famous horse race was called off after two bombs threats were called in, reportedly from the IRA.

Some 60,000 spectators - including Princess Anne - were evacuated while police inspected the course. The race was run 48 hours later in front of a reduced crowd. Champions League, May 1 2002: Just hours before Real Madrid's semi-final tie against rivals Barcelona was set to kick-off, a car bomb was detonated close to the Bernabeu Stadium in Spain's capital. The explosion followed the arrest of 11 members of the Batasuna (a group linked to ETA) though it was not immediately clear if the attack was directed at either club. Despite 17 people being injured in the blast, the match went ahead after UEFA were satisfied with security checks. Photo: Emergency workers the debris after a car bomb exploded near Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, hours before a Champions League semi-final in 2002. (Reuters) Pakistan v New Zealand, May 8 2002: Fourteen people - 11 French Navy experts, two Pakistanis and the host team's physiotherapist - were killed after a suicide bomber staged an attack outside the hotel where the New Zealand cricket team were staying in Karachi, Pakistan.

There was no action in the scheduled Test and the team returned home. The Australian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since 1998 due to safety concerns. In 1996 they also refused to play preliminary World Cup matches in Sri Lanka a week after a huge bomb blast in Colombo killed 80 people and injured 1,200. Photo: The aftermath of an explosion near the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi. (Aamir Aureshi, AFP) Iraq's Olympic squad and committee, July 15 2006: The year saw three deadly attacks on the country's sportsmen and women the most notable of which saw the head of Iraq's Olympic Committee Ahmed al-Hadjiya kidnapped along with 30 athletes and officials after a sports conference in Baghdad was stormed by 50 gunmen in July. On May 17 of the same year, 15 athletes and staff members of the taekwondo team were kidnapped en route to a competition in Jordan - they were never seen again. Nine days later, gunmen killed the Iraqi tennis coach together with two of his players.

Dakar Rally, January 4 2008: The threat of an Al Qaeda attack meant that organisers deemed staging the race too dangerous in 2008 and it was subsequently cancelled for the first time in its 30-year history. Scheduled to have started in Lisbon, Portugal and end in Dakar, Senegal it was felt that the security of participants could not be guaranteed particularly in the Mauritania area where the rally was scheduled to spend eight days. The month prior to the race a French family on holiday in Mauritania was murdered and al-Qaida are believed to be responsible. Sinhala and Tamil New Year Marathon, April 6 2008: Fifteen athletes were killed and at least 90 others were injured when a suicide bomber attacked the start of a marathon held to celebrate the start of Sri Lanka's new year. Highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, army officer Lt Colonel Udayadeera, former Olympic marathon runner KA Karunaratne and the national athletics coach, Lakshman de Alwis, were among the dead. The Sri Lankan government blamed the Tamil Tigers for the attack.

Photo: Sri Lankan people carry the coffin of slain Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle during his funeral ceremony in Welihena outside Colombo. (AFP PHOTO/Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI ) Sri Lanka v Pakistan March 3, 2009: En route to a match against Pakistan, the Sri Lankan cricket team bus was attacked by 12 masked gunmen outside a stadium in Lahore. Rockets and grenades were thrown while multiple rounds of ammunition were fired killing eight - six policemen and two civilians - and injuring nine - six players, two staff and an umpire. The attack was believed to have been carried out by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the outlawed militant groups with close links to Al-Qaeda. Sri Lanka had only agreed to play the Test after India withdrew owing to safety concerns following the Mumbai attacks the year before. The Pakistan government had guaranteed the team "presidential-style security". The same year the second edition of the Indian Premier League was staged in South Africa because of security concerns in India.

External Link: Sri Lanka team bus attacked Commonwealth Games 2010: Australia's Dani Samuels, Travis Meyer and Stephanie Sang were among a plethora of athletes from around the world who withdrew from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi owing to safety concerns. Athletes around the world were warned of the "high threat of terrorism throughout India" nation of the event following the Mumbai attack in 2008, an attack on and IPL match earlier in the year and on a cafe in Pune. It was also widely reported that security provisions for the competition were "nowhere near ready" particularly the ability organisers had to sweep for explosives. Despite the threats, the competition was completed without an attack. First posted April 16, 2013 14:08:15 Top Stories Boston Marathon latest on the list of mass sporting events and teams hit by attacks Boston Marathon latest on the list of mass sporting events and teams hit by attacks World | Associated Press | Updated: April 16, 2013 09:25 IST EMAIL PRINT COMMENTS The blasts during Boston Marathon on Monday was the latest in the list of terrorist attacks on major sporting events around the world.

Here is a glance at some sporting events and teams that have been affected by attacks and threats: September 5-6, 1972: Palestinians going by the name of "Black September" kill 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. April 21, 1987: A car bomb kills more than 100 people at a bus station in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The blast came during a tour of the country by the New Zealand cricket team. The three-Test tour was cut to one. February 11, 1996: Cricket teams from Australia and the West Indies refuse to play preliminary World Cup matches in Sri Lanka a week after a huge bomb blast in Colombo killed 80 people and injures 1,200. July 27, 1996: Centennial Park bombing at Atlanta Olympics. The attack took place during a nighttime music concert at the Centennial Olympic Park. The explosion killed one person and injured over 100 others. April 5, 1997: The Grand National, the most famous horse race in England, was abandoned after two coded bomb threats were reportedly received from the IRA.

Sixty-thousand spectators (including Princess Anne), jockeys, race personnel and local residents were evacuated, and the course was secured by police. The race was run two days later. May 1, 2002: Hours before the Champions League semifinal between Real Madrid and Barcelona, a car bomb was detonated near Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Seventeen people were injured. UEFA made security checks before going ahead with the match. May 8, 2002: A suicide bomber killed 14 people outside the hotel where the New Zealand cricket team was staying in Karachi, Pakistan. Fourteen people died in the attack and the New Zealand team returned home. 2006: Iraqi sportsmen and women were targeted three times. On May 17, 15 athletes and officials of the Iraqi taekwondo team were kidnapped as they headed to Jordan for a training camp. None of the athletes were seen alive again. On May 26, gunmen shot and killed the Iraqi tennis coach and two of his players. The final attack on July 16 involved 50 gunmen who attacked a sports conference in Baghdad.

They kidnapped 30 athletes and officials, including the head of Iraq's Olympic Committee, Ahmed al-Hadjiya. April 9, 2008: A suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber detonated a device at the start of a marathon celebrating the start of Sri Lanka's new year. Highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, former Olympic marathon runner KA Karunaratne and the national athletics coach, Lakshman de Alwis, were among the dozen people killed. January 4, 2008: The Dakar Rally was canceled for the first time in its 30-year history. The threat of an attack from Al Qaeda made the race too risky for the organizers. March 3, 2009: The Sri Lankan cricket team bus was attacked by masked gunmen as they traveled in their team bus outside a stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. Seven people were killed in the attack and six of the Sri Lankan cricket players were wounded.

January 8, 2010: Assistant coach Abalo Amelete and communications director Stanislas Ocloo of the Togo soccer team were killed when gunmen fired on the team's bus in Angola, site of the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament. The Angolan driver was also killed and nine members of Togo's party were wounded including Togo's reserve goalkeeper. April 15, 2013: Two bombs exploded in the crowded street near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing two people and injuring more than 130 others. The explosions occurred about four hours into the race and about three hours after the men's winner crossed the line. By that point, more than 17,000 of the runners had finished the race, but thousands of others were farther back along the course. Worst terrorist attacks in sports Worst terrorist attacks in sports Rappler lists the worst terrorists attacks in sports, including the one on the Boston Marathon earlier today.

Published 9:24 AM, April 16, 2013 Updated 9:32 AM, April 16, 2013 MANILA, Philippines -- Like what the Olympic values stand for, sports are played to foster excellence, respect and friendship. There are times, however, when sporting events are used as a venue for terrorists to stage attacks and violently send their message to the whole world. 1972 - Munich Massacre At dawn of September 5, 1972, the darkest chapter in Olympic history began in Munich, when 8 members of terrorist group Black September took hostage Israeli athletes and sports officials in a brazen attack at the latter's billeting quarters. Negotiations gripped the world during that time and in the end, 17 people were killed, including 11 Israelis (6 coaches, 5 athletes), 5 members of Black September and a German police officer. Until now, the Munich Massacre remains the worst terror attack in sports and is the first and only incident to put a halt to the Games, when a memorial service was held at the Olympic Stadium before almost 85, 000 people. GRIEF.

Runner John Ounao breaks down after he finds friends after several explosions rocked the finish of the Boston Marathon. AFP Photo. 2013 - Boston Marathon bombing Five hours after the Boston Marathon fired off, two large explosions struck near the finish line, killing at least three -- including an 8-year-old kid and injuring scores of runners and onlookers. The White House branded the bombings as a terrorist attack, as media outlets reported that other unexploded devices have been found in the area. As of posting time, none of the at least 10 FIlipinos who joined the marathon were injured in the twin blasts, according to Elmer Cato of the Philippine Embassy in the United States. 2009 - Cricket shooting in Pakistan In a bizarre security lapse, 12 gunmen carrying sacks of weapons ambushed the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to a cricket match against Pakistan in Lahore. Eight were killed (6 police escorts, 2 bystanders) and 6 cricketers were injured as the terrorists -- looking highly-trained and armed with assault riffles and grenades -- attacked the convoy carrying the Sri Lanka squad.

The incident pushed Pakistan further into isolation as sports teams from all over the world have refused to come to the Asian country to participate in any sporting event, however big it may be. 2008 - Sri Lanka Marathon bombing At least 14 people were killed, including a former Olympic marathoner and coach, and 90 others were wounded when a suicide bomber attacked at an opening ceremony for a marathon in Colombo. Blood and body parts were scattered across the streets, where hundreds of runners and onlookers gathered at the fire-off of the marathon, which is part of the national celebration of the Sinhalese New Year. The Sri Lankan government blamed the attack on the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group fighting for independence before getting defeated by the military in 2009. HALF-STAFF. The Olympic flag was flown at half-staff after the bombings in Atlanta. File photo by Patrick Herztog/AFP. 1996 - Atlanta Olympics bombing With a goal of embarrassing the United States government for its "abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand," Eric Robert Rudolph planted a bomb at the Centennial Olympic Park during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Two people were killed, including a Turkish cameraman who had a heart attack while covering the event and 111 were injured in the worst terrorist attack in Olympic Games held in the United States. Rudolph, who is now serving four life terms without the possibility of parole in a supermax prison, actually evaded arrest and perpetrated three more bombings before getting nabbed in 2003. 2002 - Massacre avoided in Madrid As then-Real Madrid spokesman Joaquin Maroto perfectly put it, "a massacre" was narrowly avoided when two car bombs exploded near the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu hours before the home team faced archrival FC Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. One bomb exploded just 100m from the stadium, injuring 17 people and setting into fire at least 10 cars in an attack immediately claimed by Basque separatist group ETA. Despite the bombings, the match went on, with Real Madrid earning a 1-1 draw to move into the finals of Europe's top football tournament.

- Rappler.com Al-Qaeda Propagandist Called for Attacks on Sports Events Al-Qaeda Propagandist Called for Attacks on Sports Events By Patrick Goodenough | April 16, 2013 | 12:54 AM EDT The cover of the ninth edition of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s propaganda magazine, Inspire. (CNSNews.com) – Although no group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s deadly bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon, a leading al-Qaeda ideologue last year recommended that jihadists in America include sporting events in their list of prospective terror targets. Writing in the online magazine of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Inspire, the terrorist known as Abu Musab al-Suri listed what he called “the most important enemy targets.” Al-Suri contended that civilians should be targeted “when responding to a brutal practice carried out by America and her allied forces.” “This is done by targeting human crowds in order to inflict maximum human losses,” he wrote.

“This is very easy since there are numerous such targets such as crowded sports arenas, annual social events, large international exhibitions, crowded market-places, skyscrapers, crowded buildings … etc.” “It is possible for ordinary Resistance fighters among the Muslims residing in America and the allied Western countries to target them, in order to participate in the jihad and the Resistance, and to stretch out a helping hand to the mujahidun [Islamic warriors].” The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist Web sites, drew attention Monday to the Inspire article. Any short list of terrorist groups dedicated to carrying out attacks against U.S. targets would include AQAP, the al-Qaeda affiliate active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It claimed responsibility for the failed attempt by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to bomb a Detroit-bound aircraft on Christmas Day 2009; and for an attempt in Oct. 2010 to mail parcel bombs to the U.S., succeeding in getting them commercial cargo planes bound for the U.S. before they were discovered.

In his Inspire article, al-Suri wrote that “the goal of the operations of the Resistance and the Individual Terrorism Jihad is to inflict as many human and material losses as possible upon the interests of America and her allies, and to make them feel that the Resistance has transformed into a phenomenon of popular uprising against them.” Abu Musab al-Suri, a leading al-Qaeda propagandist whose real name is Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, is wanted by Spain in connection with the 2004 Madrid bombings. (Photo: Interpol) Al-Suri, a Syrian-born jihadist whose proper name is Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, is credited with authoring a 1,600-page online propaganda treatise entitled “Call for Global Islamic Resistance.” He was captured in Pakistan in late 2005 and turned over to the U.S. custody. Wanted for plotting jihad against Syria’s Assad regime, he was then handed over to the Syrians. But Syria reportedly released him in late 2011, a step experts speculated at the time was a signal to the U.S. government that Damascus’ counterterror cooperation was over because of its support for the anti-Assad opposition.

Al-Suri, who holds joint Syrian and Spanish citizenship, is wanted by Spain for alleged involvement in the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people, and is the subject of an Interpol red notice . His article on “the most important enemy targets” appeared in the ninth edition of Inspire, an AQAP publication which terrorism experts say has played an important role in cultivating and inciting English-speaking jihadists to plot attacks against Western targets. The ninth edition came out in May 2012, and was the first to have been produced after Inspire editor Samir Khan was killed in a U.S. drone strike along with Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni-American cleric and top al-Qaeda propagandist , who also played a leading role in the magazine. Enjoying your CNSNews.com article? The MRC is NOT funded by the government like NPR - but as a non-profit, your tax-free contribution will keep the MRC your conservative premiere Media Watchdog! Support us today by completing the form below. Enjoy your article! Copyright 1998-2017 CNSNews.com. CNSNews.com is a division of the Media Research Center.

The mission of the Media Research Center is to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish. The MRC is a research and education organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the MRC are tax-deductible. Copyright © 2014, Media Research Center. All Rights Reserved. Federal employees and military personnel can donate to the Media Research Center through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC. To donate to the MRC, use CFC #12489. Visit the CFC website for more information about giving opportunities in your workplace. Eight facts about terrorism in the United States - The Washington Post Eight facts about terrorism in the United States The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! Got it By Brad Plumer April 16, 2013 Follow @bradplumer Here are a few basic things we know about the Boston Marathon blasts on Monday: Two bombs went off. At least three people died.

Others lost limbs. More than 150 were rushed to the hospital. Police found at least two other suspicious packages in the area. Beyond that, there's a lot we don't know — including who did this, or why. “Any event with multiple explosive devices — as this appears to be — is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror," the White House told reporters on Monday. "However, we don’t yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough investigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic.” The FBI says that there "is no single, universally accepted, definition of terrorism," but the U.S. federal code defines it as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” We still don't even know if the Boston blasts qualify — or if they were the work of a person with no goals except death. One thing we can do, however, is provide some very general context about the history of terrorist attacks in the United States.

A helpful set of basic facts and figures can be found in this big December report by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Here are some key findings: 1) Terrorist attacks and attempted attacks in the United States have become less frequent since the 1970s — though September 11 was a huge exception: There have been 2,608 total attacks and 226 fatal attacks in the United States between 1970 and 2011. Two big caveats about this chart. First, it only shows the frequency of terrorist attacks and attempted attacks, not severity. The attacks on September 11 in New York City, Arlington, and Pennsylvania are counted as just four events, even though there were far more fatalities than all the rest combined. So keep that in mind. The report also takes a very comprehensive view of terrorism. It includes September 11 and the Oklahoma City bombing. But it also includes the murder of abortion-clinic doctors. And the guard shot at the Holocaust Museum in 2009. And all the instances of the Earth Liberation Front setting fire to SUV dealerships or police stations.

It also includes serious but unsuccessful attempts — like the May 2010 attempted vehicle bombing in Times Square. If we just look at the decade between 2001 and 2011, we still see that the number of terrorist attacks has declined since September 11, although the number of fatal attacks has ticked up of late. (That includes a fatal shooting at a Knoxville church in 2008, the assassination of abortion provider George Tiller in 2009, the shooting at Fort Hood that killed 13 people and injured 30 in 2009, and so on.) 2) Law enforcement officials appear to be getting better at thwarting terrorist attacks — but they can't stop all of them: Sometimes sheer luck plays a role, too: "The highest proportion of unsuccessful attacks occurred in 2011, when four out of nine recorded attacks were unsuccessful," the report says.

"In three of these attacks bombs failed to detonate before they were discovered, and in the fourth unsuccessful attack, shots were fired at the White House by an individual who has since been charged with attempting to assassinate President Obama." 3) Just about every part of the United States has been hit by some form of terrorist attack since 1970: Keep in mind, though, that this includes all attacks, lethal and non-lethal. Here's a breakdown of the states that have seen the most attacks and fatalities: Notice that New York and Virginia dominate the list of fatalities — again, that's because of the September 11 attacks. (Pennsylvania is also up there, because of Flight 93 .) After that is Oklahoma, mainly because 168 people died in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing . Puerto Rico, which is counted here, ranks third in number of attacks in large part because of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional , a paramilitary separatist group that was responsible for more than 120 bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Florida ranks high on the list in number of attacks because of the Earth Liberation Front , which has been particularly active in the past decade. But there haven't been many fatalities from these attacks. It's worth noting that the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front have been two of the most active groups since 1970, with 161 attacks total (and 84 since 2001). But they've killed zero people over the years — they mainly focus on setting fire to facilities, like SUV dealerships. 4) Since the Oklahoma City bombing, a greater portion of terrorist attacks have been carried out by individuals: 5) The types of organized groups that carry out terrorist attacks, meanwhile, have become extremely diverse: Al-Qaeda dominates this list, and the two eco-terrorism groups have been particularly active (though they both seem to be declining ). But aside from that, terrorist groups seem to come in all types "These organizations are quite diverse," the report notes. "The [Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] attack was Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s Detroit suicide bomb attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. The TTP attack was Faisal Shazhad’s attempt to detonate a bomb in Times Square.

Members of the Minutemen American Defense, an anti-immigration militia group targeted a Mexican-American family. The KKK assaulted someone, and the Justice Department sent razor blades in envelopes to those conducting experiments on animals." (Note that the "Justice Department" referred to here is an animal-rights group, not the federal agency.) 6) Bombings have long been the tactic of choice for terrorists in the United States: Bombings have dropped in popularity over the last decade — accounting for just 27 percent of the attacks since 2001. (Again, though, this reflects the fact that eco-terrorists have dominated the raw numbers in the 2000s.) And, notably, guns have never figured heavily in U.S. terrorist attacks. 7) North America suffers far, far fewer terrorist attacks than most other regions around the world: That tiny blue sliver on the bottom represents North America. Even Western Europe (in red) gets hit by terrorism more frequently. And the vast majority of attacks worldwide take place in South Asia (green) and the Middle East and North Africa (pink). 8) Your odds of dying in a terrorist attack are still far, far lower than dying from just about anything else.

In the last five years, the odds of an American being killed in a terrorist attack have been about 1 in 20 million (that's including both domestic attacks and overseas attacks). As the chart above from the Economist shows, that's considerably smaller than the risk of dying from many other things, from post-surgery complications to ordinary gun violence to lightning. That said, terrorist attacks obviously loom much larger in our collective consciousness — not least because they're designed to horrify. So, understandably, they get much more attention. Further reading: --The Global Terrorism Database is a useful searchable site that lets you search and track terrorism attacks around the world since 1970. business Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. or Against Americans World > Disasters Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. or Against Americans The following timeline lists terrorist attacks against the United States and Americans living either in the U.S. or abroad. Morgan , killing 35 people and injuring hundreds more. Bolshevist or anarchist terrorists believed responsible, but crime never solved. 1975 Jan. 24, New York City: bomb set off in historic Fraunces Tavern killed 4 and injured more than 50 people.

Puerto Rican nationalist group (FALN) claimed responsibility, and police tied 13 other bombings to the group. 1979 Nov. 4, Tehran, Iran: Iranian radical students seized the U.S. embassy, taking 66 hostages. 14 were later released. The remaining 52 were freed after 444 days on the day of President Reagan's inauguration. 1982–1991 Lebanon: Thirty US and other Western hostages kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah. Some were killed, some died in captivity, and some were eventually released. Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days. 1983 April 18, Beirut, Lebanon: U.S. embassy destroyed in suicide car-bomb attack; 63 dead, including 17 Americans. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. Oct. 23, Beirut, Lebanon: Shiite suicide bombers exploded truck near U.S. military barracks at Beirut airport, killing 241 marines. Minutes later a second bomb killed 58 French paratroopers in their barracks in West Beirut. Dec. 12, Kuwait City, Kuwait: Shiite truck bombers attacked the U.S.

embassy and other targets, killing 5 and injuring 80. 1984 Sept. 20, east Beirut, Lebanon: truck bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy annex, killing 24, including 2 U.S. military. Dec. 3, Beirut, Lebanon: Kuwait Airways Flight 221, from Kuwait to Pakistan, hijacked and diverted to Tehran. 2 Americans killed. 1985 April 12, Madrid, Spain: Bombing at restaurant frequented by U.S. soldiers, killed 18 Spaniards and injured 82. June 14, Beirut, Lebanon: TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome hijacked to Beirut by Hezbollah terrorists and held for 17 days. A U.S. Navy diver executed. Oct. 7, Mediterranean Sea: gunmen attack Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. One U.S. tourist killed. Hijacking linked to Libya. Dec. 18, Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria: airports in Rome and Vienna were bombed, killing 20 people, 5 of whom were Americans. Bombing linked to Libya.

1986 April 2, Athens, Greece:A bomb exploded aboard TWA flight 840 en route from Rome to Athens, killing 4 Americans and injuring 9. April 5, West Berlin, Germany: Libyans bombed a disco frequented by U.S. servicemen, killing 2 and injuring hundreds. 1988 Dec. 21, Lockerbie, Scotland: N.Y.-bound Pan-Am Boeing 747 exploded in flight from a terrorist bomb and crashed into Scottish village, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground. Passengers included 35 Syracuse University students and many U.S. military personnel. Libya formally admitted responsibility 15 years later (Aug. 2003) and offered $2.7 billion compensation to victims' families. 1993 Feb. 26, New York City: bomb exploded in basement garage of World Trade Center , killing 6 and injuring at least 1,040 others.

In 1995, militant Islamist Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and 9 others were convicted of conspiracy charges, and in 1998, Ramzi Yousef, believed to have been the mastermind, was convicted of the bombing. Al-Qaeda involvement is suspected. 1995 April 19, Oklahoma City: car bomb exploded outside federal office building, collapsing wall and floors. 168 people were killed, including 19 children and 1 person who died in rescue effort. Over 220 buildings sustained damage. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols later convicted in the antigovernment plot to avenge the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Tex., exactly 2 years earlier. (See Miscellaneous Disasters .) Nov. 13, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: car bomb exploded at U.S. military headquarters, killing 5 U.S. military servicemen. 1996 June 25, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: truck bomb exploded outside Khobar Towers military complex, killing 19 American servicemen and injuring hundreds of others.

13 Saudis and a Lebanese, all alleged members of Islamic militant group Hezbollah , were indicted on charges relating to the attack in June 2001. 1998 Aug. 7, Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: truck bombs exploded almost simultaneously near 2 U.S. embassies, killing 224 (213 in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania) and injuring about 4,500. 4 men connected with al-Qaeda 2 of whom had received training at al-Qaeda camps inside Afghanistan , were convicted of the killings in May 2001 and later sentenced to life in prison. A federal grand jury had indicted 22 men in connection with the attacks, including Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden , who remained at large. 2000 Oct. 12, Aden, Yemen: U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole heavily damaged when a small boat loaded with explosives blew up alongside it. 17 sailors killed. Linked to Osama bin Laden , or members of al-Qaeda terrorist network. 2001 Sept.

11, New York City, Arlington, Va., and Shanksville, Pa.: hijackers crashed 2 commercial jets into twin towers of World Trade Center; 2 more hijacked jets were crashed into the Pentagon and a field in rural Pa. Total dead and missing numbered 2,9921: 2,749 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon, 40 in Pa., and 19 hijackers. Islamic al-Qaeda terrorist group blamed. (See September 11, 2001: Timeline of Terrorism .) 2002 June 14, Karachi, Pakistan: bomb explodes outside American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 12. Linked to al-Qaeda. 2003 1 May 12, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: suicide bombers kill 34, including 8 Americans, at housing compounds for Westerners. Al-Qaeda suspected. 2004 May 29–31, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: terrorists attack the offices of a Saudi oil company in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, take foreign oil workers hostage in a nearby residential compound, leaving 22 people dead including one American.

June 11–19, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: terrorists kidnap and execute Paul Johnson Jr., an American, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2 other Americans and BBC cameraman killed by gun attacks. Dec. 6, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: terrorists storm the U.S. consulate, killing 5 consulate employees. 4 terrorists were killed by Saudi security. 2005 Nov. 9, Amman, Jordan: suicide bombers hit 3 American hotels, Radisson, Grand Hyatt, and Days Inn, in Amman, Jordan, killing 57. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. 2006 Sept. 13, Damascus, Syria: an attack by four gunman on the American embassy is foiled. 2007 Jan. 12, Athens, Greece: the U.S. embassy is fired on by an anti-tank missile causing damage but no injuries. Dec. 11, Algeria: more than 60 people are killed, including 11 United Nations staff members, when Al Qaeda terrorists detonate two car bombs near Algeria's Constitutional Council and the United Nations offices. 2008 May 26, Iraq: a suicide bomber on a motorcycle kills six U.S.

soldiers and wounds 18 others in Tarmiya. June 24, Iraq: a suicide bomber kills at least 20 people, including three U.S. Marines, at a meeting between sheiks and Americans in Karmah, a town west of Baghdad. June 12, Afghanistan: four American servicemen are killed when a roadside bomb explodes near a U.S. military vehicle in Farah Province. July 13, Afghanistan: nine U.S.soldiers and at least 15 NATO troops die when Taliban militants boldly attack an American base in Kunar Province, which borders Pakistan. It's the most deadly against U.S. troops in three years. Aug. 18 and 19, Afghanistan: as many as 15 suicide bombers backed by about 30 militants attack a U.S. military base, Camp Salerno, in Bamiyan. Fighting between U.S. troops and members of the Taliban rages overnight. No U.S. troops are killed. Sept. 16, Yemen: a car bomb and a rocket strike the U.S. embassy in Yemen as staff arrived to work, killing 16 people, including 4 civilians.

At least 25 suspected al-Qaeda militants are arrested for the attack. Nov. 26, India: in a series of attacks on several of Mumbai's landmarks and commercial hubs that are popular with Americans and other foreign tourists, including at least two five-star hotels, a hospital, a train station, and a cinema. About 300 people are wounded and nearly 190 people die, including at least 5 Americans. 2009 Feb. 9, Iraq: a suicide bomber kills four American soldiers and their Iraqi translator near a police checkpoint. April 10, Iraq: a suicide attack kills five American soldiers and two Iraqi policemen. June 1, Little Rock, Arkansas: Abdulhakim Muhammed, a Muslim convert from Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with shooting two soldiers outside a military recruiting center. One is killed and the other is wounded. In a January 2010 letter to the judge hearing his case, Muhammed asked to change his plea from not guilty to guilty, claimed ties to al-Qaeda, and called the shooting a jihadi attack "to fight those who wage war on Islam and Muslims." Dec.

25: A Nigerian man on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit attempted to ignite an explosive device hidden in his underwear. The explosive device that failed to detonate was a mixture of powder and liquid that did not alert security personnel in the airport. The alleged bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, told officials later that he was directed by the terrorist group Al Qaeda. The suspect was already on the government's watch list when he attempted the bombing; his father, a respected Nigerian banker, had told the U.S. government that he was worried about his son's increased extremism. Dec. 30, Iraq: a suicide bomber kills eight Americans civilians, seven of them CIA agents, at a base in Afghanistan. It's the deadliest attack on the agency since 9/11. The attacker is reportedly a double agent from Jordan who was acting on behalf of al-Qaeda. 2010 May 1, New York City: a car bomb is discovered in Times Square, New York City after smoke is seen coming from a vehicle. The bomb was ignited, but failed to detonate and was disarmed before it could cause any harm. Times Square was evacuated as a safety precaution.

Faisal Shahzad pleads guilty to placing the bomb as well as 10 terrorism and weapons charges. May 10, Jacksonville, Florida: a pipe bomb explodes while approximately 60 Muslims are praying in the mosque. The attack causes no injuries. Oct. 29: two packages are found on separate cargo planes. Each package contains a bomb consisting of 300 to 400 grams (11-14 oz) of plastic explosives and a detonating mechanism. The bombs are discovered as a result of intelligence received from Saudi Arabia's security chief. The packages, bound from Yemen to the United States, are discovered at en route stop-overs, one in England and one in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 2011 Jan. 17, Spokane, Washington: a pipe bomb is discovered along the route of the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial march. The bomb, a "viable device" set up to spray marchers with shrapnel and to cause multiple casualties, is defused without any injuries. 2012 Sept. 11, Benghazi, Libya: militants armed with antiaircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades fire upon the American consulate, killing U.S.

ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other embassy officials. U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the U.S. believed that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group closely linked to Al Qaeda, orchestrated the attack. 2013 Feb. 1, Ankara, Turkey: Ecevit Sanli detonates a bomb near a gate at the U.S. Embassy. Sanli dies after detonating the bomb. One Turkish guard is also killed. Didem Tuncay, a respected television journalist, is injured in the blast. Unlike the bombing at the embassy in Benghazi last September, the U.S. government immediately calls the bombing a terrorist attack. According to Turkish officials, the attack is from the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other nations. April 15, Boston, Mass.: multiple bombs explode near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Two bombs go off around 2:50 in the afternoon as runners finish the race. Three people are killed. One is an eight year old boy. More than 260 people are injured.

Three days later, the FBI releases photos and video of two suspects in the hope that the public can help identify them. Just hours after the FBI releases the images, the two suspects rob a gas station in Central Square then shoot and kill a MIT police officer in his car. Afterwards, the two men carjack a SUV and tell the driver that they had set off the explosions at the marathon. Police pursue the vehicle into Watertown. During the shootout, a MBTA officer is shot and one of the suspects, identified as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, age 26, is killed. A suicide vest is found on his body. The other suspect, Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, age 19, remains at large for several hours, causing a massive manhunt and lockdown for all of Boston, Cambridge, and many other surrounding communities. The manhunt ends when he is found alive, but seriously injured, hiding in a boat behind a house in Watertown. The two suspects are brothers and had been living together in Cambridge. They have lived in the U.S. for about a decade, but are from an area near Chechnya, a region in Russia.

2014 July 17, Ukraine: A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashes in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, killing all 298 passengers and crew members. The crash occurs in territory where pro-Russian separatists have been battling Ukrainian troops. President Poroshenko says the crash is an act of terror. "I would like to note that we are calling this not an incident, not a catastrophe, but a terrorist act," he says. Ukrainian and American officials say the plane is shot down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile, citing satellite images. Poroshenko accuses the separatists of launching the missile, which they deny. Russian president Putin also denies having any role in the disaster. A day after the crash, President Obama says he believes that the rebels shot down the plane. He calls the crash a "global tragedy" and faults Putin for continuing to arm the rebels and for not stopping the fighting. Most analysts say rebels may have thought they were targeting a military transport plane rather than a commercial jet. A day before the crash, the U.S. and Europe impose further sanctions on Russia in response to Putin's refusal to stop arming the separatists.

August 19: Members of ISIS behead American journalist James Foley, 40, in apparent retaliation for U.S. airstrikes against the group. Foley, who worked for GlobalPost, went missing in Syria in November 2012. Sept. 2: An ISIS militant decapitates another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, 31, who worked for Time and other news outlets. He was abducted in 2013 in Syria. 2015 Dec. 2, San Bernadino, Calif.: Fourteen people are killed and more than 20 wounded when two people open fire at a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center, a service facility for people with disabilities and special needs in San Bernardino, California. The suspects, husband and wife Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, are killed in a shootout with police after the rampage. Officials say they believe the attack is terrorism related. It is the worst mass shooting in the United States since 26 people were killed in Dec. 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. (Dec. 8): The F.B.I.

announces that Farook and Malik had been "radicalized." The FBI also concludes that while the couple was not working with ISIS directly, their actions were inspired by the Islamic State. 2016 June 12: A mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016, leaves 50 people dead, including the gunman, and more than 50 injured. The shooter is identified as Omar Mateen, 29, who entered the nightclub armed with an assault rifle and a pistol. According to authorities, Mr. Mateen pledged his allegiance to ISIS via a 911 call from inside the nightclub. This massacre is the deadliest mass shooting on U.S. soil.

Question: What American sporting event was struck by a terrorist bomb in 2013?
Answer: The Boston Marathon