| Besançon courthouse attack | |
|---|---|
_Palais_de_Justice_-_Ext%25C3%25A9rieur_-_01.jpg) The Besançon courthouse, in 2021 | |
 Location of Besançon, in France | |
| Location | 47°14′15″N6°01′25″E / 47.2374843°N 6.0236485°E /47.2374843; 6.0236485 Besançon, France |
| Date | 9 May 1970 10:30 pm (Paris) |
| Weapons | IED |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Right-wing extremists |
| Two | |
| Motive | Political terrorism |
Aterrorist attack targeted theBesançon courthouse on 9 May 1970. It was perpetrated with abomb by two men fromthe OAS andUDR movements, in a context ofthe resurgence of far-right violence in France.
On 9 May 1970, at 10:30 pm, theplace du Huit-Septembre (September 8 Square) was shaken by an explosion.[1] TheBesançon courthouse was just attacked[2][3] with abomb containing explosives and scrap metal.[1] Damage was substantial but limited : only the porch, the bay windows, and thesalle des pas perdus (hall of lost steps), partlyclassifieds, were seriously affected.[1] A couple and their baby narrowly escaped the impact, but no one injuries were reported.[1] The mayor, thesocialistJean Minjoz, immediately condemned this act, while the investigation began.[1] Witnesses said they saw a man throw a device through, before escaping in an accomplice's car.[1] At first the attack was attributed to the left[3][4][5] but two individuals were arrested on 14 May with the number of their aregistration plate.[1] They were former soldiers, workers at theRhodiaceta factory, one was a member of theOAS and the other a member of theUDR[3][6][4][7][8] acting for defiant motives possibly related to access to power through theSAC.[9][10][2] The suspects admitted the facts, while weapons and ammunition were found.[1]