Terrorists, Terrorists Quiz / Test | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When and where was the generally accepted first attempt at hijacking an aircraft made?

Answer: Arequuipa Peru, 1931

On February 21, 1931 in Arequuipa, Peru, armed revolutionaries surrounded an aircraft on the ground and demanded to be flown over an area in order to drop propaganda leaflets. The American pilot refused to cooperate and the revolutionaries relented.

2. When was the first successful attempt at highjacking an aircraft made (in the sense of the skyjackers actually gaining control of the aircraft)?

Answer: 1948

In July 1948, Chinese skyjackers took control of a Cathay Pacific flight en route from Macau to Hong Kong. A struggle occurred between the flight crew and the skyjackers which resulted in the plane crashing. Everyone on board was killed.

3. When was the first successful skyjacking of an American plane?

Answer: 1961

On May 1, 1961, a Puerto Rican man assumed control of a National Airlines plane flying out of Miami. The man forced the crew to fly the plane to Havanna, Cuba where he was given asylum by the Castro government.

4. In which of the following ten year periods did the most sky-jackings occur?

Answer: 1968-1977

The statistics are quite interesting: 1948-1957: 15 skyjackings; 1958-1967: 48 skyjackings, 1968-1977: 414 skyjackings with peak years 1968 and 1969 with 82 skyjackings each; 1978-1987: 260 skyjackings and 1988-1997: 180 skyjackings.

5. In July 1976 terrorists skyjacked Air France flight 139 en route from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens. The plane was diverted to Libya, and then to Entebbe airport in Uganda. The detained hostages were threatened with death unless incarcerated fellow terrorists were released. The situation was resolved by a military strike carried out by whom?

Answer: Israel Defense Force (IDF)

The majority of the hostages were released unharmed sometime after landing at Entebbe. However, over 100 hostages, all of Jewish extraction but of various nationalities, were detained and threatened with death by the terrorists. An Israeli commando force flew under cover of darkness and without ground control to Entebbe where they landed and assaulted the building where the hostages were held. Since Uganda at the time was under the control of dictator Idi Amin Dada, a terrorist sympathizer, the operation was conducted without the knowledge or aid of the local military.

The casualty list at the conclusion of the raid was 6 terrorists, 1 commando, 3 hostages and 45 Ugandan soldiers killed. 100 hostages were liberated. (One hostage was reportedly fed to crocodiles on the orders of Idi Amin).

6. In 1979 Iranian terrorists seized the American Embassy in Iran and held a large number of American diplomats hostage. For how many days were the hostages held by the terrorists?

Answer: 444 days

The hostages were held from from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981. The captors refused to release them while President Carter was in office. Hence the specific date of the release.

7. During the 'Iran hostage crisis' in 1979, six American diplomats evaded capture by the Iranian terrorists, taking refuge in the embassies of other countries. These people were issued passports by one of these nations thereby allowing them to safely leave Iran. Which country issued passports to these American citizens?

Answer: Canada

On the day the hostages were taken, six diplomats took refuge in the Canadian and Swedish embassies. In late 1979 the Canadian Parliament held a secret session for the first time since WWII in which legislation was passed allowing Canadian passports to be issued to the six Americans. These six people safely flew out of Iran to Zurich, Switzerland January 28, 1980. This so-called 'Canadian Caper' was the brain child of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor who was hailed as a hero in the west.

8. Several of the terrorists involved in the 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Iran went on to serve in major roles in Iran's government.

Answer: True

At least three of the terrorists, Asgharzadeh, Mindamadi and Entekar are known for certain to have served or are serving official roles in Iran's government. There is controversy regarding whether or not the sixth President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected in 2005, was also one of the terrorists. Several of the hostages involved have identified him as one of the terrorists. However, many other sources deny that he took part in the Embassy seizure.

9. What is a fatwa?

Answer: A directive issued by a spiritual Muslim leader.

A fatwa may be issued by a spiritual Muslim leader for many reasons. One such permutation is a sentence of death directed at a specific person. Perhaps the best known such fatwa was directed against Salman Rhushdie after the release of his book 'The Satanic Verses.' The book created an uproar in the Muslim world due to supposed irreverent depiction of Muhammed. On February 14, 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa of death against Rushdie.

Many people, especially in the West, are of the opinion that such a fatwa is simply religious sponsored terrorism.

As of 2007 Iran's official stance regarding this particular fatwa is that it is still in effect and that they cannot withdraw or rescind it because only the person issuing it can do that. Khomeini is now dead.

10. During which of the following years did terrorists NOT successfully assassinate a major head of state?

Answer: 1983

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was killed October 6, 1981 by some of his own soldiers who were members of a religious sect; Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel was killed September 14, 1982 by a car bomb; Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed October 31, 1984 by members of her own security forces.

Source: Author rockdoktor

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Terrorists, Terrorists Trivia Quiz

A brief look at terrorism and acts of terrorism in the 20th century.

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