Palestinians Hijack the 'Achille Lauro'

Yesterday, 7th October was the 21st Anniversary of the hijacking.  The day went largely unoticed in the media since the world has 'moved on' and doesnt want tarnish todays terrorists the brush of their predecessors !

The hijackers of the Achill LAuro were from the PLF (Palestinian Liberation Front), a militant group of Yasser Arafat's PLO Palestinian Liberation Organisation.  The hijakers brutally dead a disabled American tourist, 69 year-old Leon Klinghoffer and unmercillously threw him overboard with his wheelchair.

The hijacking crisis was ended on 10 October when Egypt gave free passage to the hijackers in exchange for the fredom of the rest of the hostages.  However US Navy jets quickly intercepted the chartered Egypt Air 737 carrying the terrorists and forced it to land in Italy.

Four were tried in Italy and sentenced to long prison terms. Abu Abbas, the mastermind and planner unfortunatly escaped jail and stands convicted in absentia.  Abbas was arrested by US forces in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in April 2003 and died in custody in March 2004. A post mortem examination showed he died of heart disease.

The irony of the story is the boat continued its jinxed life until it caught fire and sank in 1994.

May this be a lesson to remember for all involved and all affected by terrorism today