2001 Mexican Chamber of Deputies bombing attempt
Attempted terrorist attack in Mexico
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An attempted bombing targeted the Mexican Chamber of Deputies on October 10, 2001. The attack was attempted by 34-year-old Israeli Special Forces colonel Salvador Gersson Smeck, along with another Israeli perpetrator.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Legislative Palace of San Lázaro, Mexico City, Mexico
c. 10:00AM – c. 6:00PM (UTC−06:00)
- 9 mm caliber pistols
- 9 hand grenades
- C-4 explosives
- 3 detonators
| 2001 Mexican Chamber of Deputies bombing attempt | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | 19°25′49″N 99°07′03″W Legislative Palace of San Lázaro, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Date | October 10, 2001 c. 10:00AM – c. 6:00PM (UTC−06:00) |
Attack type | Attempted bombing |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrators |
|
No. of participants | 2 |
| Motive | Unknown |
Background
The incident occurred during a crisis in Mexico’s sugar industry. In April 2001, the Chamber of Deputies created a special commission to address the sector’s financial problems and their effects on workers and sugar-cane producers who faced major problems receiving cane payments they had already delivered.[8][9] Competition from U.S. high-fructose corn syrup was also cited as a factor.[10][11][12][9] In September 2001, legislators reported that producers were owed about 4.5 billion pesos.[10][9] That same month, President Vicente Fox announced the expropriation of 27 sugar mills, citing their debts.[10][9] In response, sugar workers staged road blockades and occupied government offices.[13][10][14]
The dispute also extended to the management of union resources and worker benefits. Enrique Ramos Rodríguez, secretary general of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Azucarera y Similares de la República Mexicana (STIASRM) and a federal deputy from Veracruz, had been involved in negotiations over sugar workers' pensions and labor conditions.[15][16] His leadership was controversial among some workers, who accused him of mishandling union resources and weakening worker benefits.[17] On October 8, the STPS and PGR reported they were investigating complaints concerning Ramos's management of resources and union inventories, including allegations of diverted funds.[17][18]
The workers eventually took their demands to the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro. Beatriz Paredes Rangel, then president of the Chamber of Deputies, offered to intercede in arranging a meeting concerning their demands.[19][20][21] the workers had remained inside the Chamber for nearly 48 hours as part of their protests by October 10.[7][21][19][14]
Bombing plot
Following a morning meeting between former sugar industry workers and the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Beatriz Paredes,[22] two individuals began photographing the group; this behavior and the way they photographed the workers (aiming their cameras below their belts), who had seen the men the day prior, frustrated the workers, who demanded their identification.[3][23][7]
The two individuals claimed to be press photographers.[23] Unconvinced, the workers overwhelmed them, only to learn that they were equipped with firearms. A disturbance broke out, and a few workers alerted congressional security, who eventually broke up the disturbance and detained the two individuals while disarming them.[3][23][7]
The two individuals were caught with false Pakistani passports; the suspects were handed over to the Mexican Attorney General's office (PGR), but they were later released under controversial circumstances and pressure.[24][1][further explanation needed]