1997 Empire State Building shooting

Mass shooting in Manhattan, New York, US June 2025 January 2026 1997 Empire State Building shooting Empire State shooting 1997.jpeg United States Manhattan Empire State Building is in Manhattan Location of the Empire State Building 40 44 54.36 N 73 59 08.36 W Observation deck of the Empire State Building, New York City, United States 40 44 54.36 N 73 59 08.36 W region:US-NY_type:event inline,title 1997 2 23 5:00 pm UTC-5 Mass shooting, murder-suicide 2 (including the perpetrator) 6 Ali Hassan Abu Kamal Beretta 84 handgun Revenge for American support for Israel On February 23, 1997, Ali Hassan Abu Kamal, a 69-year-old Palestinian teacher, opened fire on the observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York City. The gunman killed one person and wounded six others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.Gunman shoots 7, kills self at Empire State Building http://www.cnn.com/US/9702/24/empire.shooting/ CNN February 24, 1997 May 15, 2011 https://archive.today/20140714135709/https://web.archive.org/web/20100420005919/http://www.cnn.com/US/9702/24/empire.shooting/ July 14, 2014 Law enforcement officials ruled it was a premeditated attack after finding notes indicating Abu Kamal's anger over Palestine and Israel. At the time, Abu Kamal's widow stated the shooting spree was not politically motivated, but rooted in his despondency over financial ruin. Ten years after the shooting, Abu Kamal's daughter revealed that she had lied in hiding that her father's actions had in fact been motivated by Palestinian nationalism. Her mother's 1997 account was a cover story fabricated by the Palestinian Authority as Abu Kamal sought revenge against the Americans, the British, and the French for supporting Israel. Shooting Abu Kamal opened fire shortly after 5 p.m. on February 23, 1997, on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, one of New York City's most popular tourist attractions. Before he started shooting, he muttered something about Egypt, apparently shouting, "Are you from Egypt?" The NYPD said they did not know whether it was said in an effort to spare or identify potential victims. Surviving victims however witness that Abu Kamal asked them in a friendly way whether "you are Italian or American?" before the shooting started.http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/sg/sg140515the_long_shadow The Long Shadow Strangers November 28, 2017 KCRW en live subscription https://archive.today/20140520154618/http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/sg/sg140515the_long_shadow May 20, 2014 The shooter used a 14-shot .380-caliber Beretta 84 handgun that he apparently bought in Florida at the end of January 1997.Blaine Harden https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/02/25/shooter-bought-gun-by-using-new-florida-id/8bfb87f6-da54-4422-960c-3ad4bf5dc433/ Shooter Bought Gun By Using New Florida Id The Washington Post February 25, 1997 June 8, 2022 live subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20160916003312/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/02/25/shooter-bought-gun-by-using-new-florida-id/8bfb87f6-da54-4422-960c-3ad4bf5dc433/ September 16, 2016 Abu Kamal killed one person and wounded another six before shooting himself in the head. He was taken to a hospital where he died five hours later. The sole murder victim was 27-year-old Christoffer Burmeister, a Danish musician who was living in New York and played in a band known as "The Bushpilots". He was visiting the Empire State Building with bandmate Matthew Gross, who was critically wounded in the attack.The Gunman Premeditated The Attack, Officials Say Matthew Purdy https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/the-gunman-premeditated-the-attack-officials-say.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm The New York Times February 25, 1997 May 15, 2011 live subscription https://archive.today/20120905102625/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/the-gunman-premeditated-the-attack-officials-say.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm September 5, 2012 Both were shot through the head, which left Gross with brain damage.Bruni Frank February 25, 1997 Rock Band's Promise Was Bright Until Gunman Shattered Their Hope https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/rock-band-s-promise-was-bright-until-gunman-shattered-their-hope.html https://archive.today/20250702231153/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/rock-band-s-promise-was-bright-until-gunman-shattered-their-hope.html July 2, 2025 July 3, 2025 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331January 24, 2011 Matthew Gross' life changed at the Empire State Building https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-jan-24-la-he-matthew-gross-20110124-story.html https://archive.today/20250703002105/https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-jan-24-la-he-matthew-gross-20110124-story.html July 3, 2025 July 3, 2025 Los Angeles Times en-US Perpetrator Ali Hassan Abu Kamal was a 69-year-old Palestinian English teacher. He was born in Jaffa in Mandate Palestine on September 19, 1927. He was the son of a refugee family that fled the city during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and resettled in Gaza. He became a well-respected English teacher at a local high school and a university, and he was also a well-paid tutor and accomplished translator. He earned about $3,000 a month and lived in an affluent neighborhood with his wife, and had six children.From Teacher to Gunman: U.S. Visit Ends in Fatal Rage N.R. Kleinfeld https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/from-teacher-to-gunman-us-visit-ends-in-fatal-rage.html?ref=aliabukamal&pagewanted=all The New York Times February 25, 1997 May 16, 2011 live subscription https://archive.today/20130130173409/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/25/nyregion/from-teacher-to-gunman-us-visit-ends-in-fatal-rage.html?ref=aliabukamal&pagewanted=all January 30, 2013 In 1996, he decided his family should relocate to the United States for a better life. He obtained a legal nonimmigrant visa and arrived in New York on December 24, 1996. Motive According to law enforcement officials, Abu Kamal's attack was premeditated, based on his visit to the observation deck the day before the shooting. A pair of identical letters, one in English and one in Arabic, was also found in a pouch around his neck. The letters were a diatribe against the "Big Three" of the United States, France, and England for their mistreatment of Palestinians, as well as against Zionism, which he said oppressed Palestinians. Despite the letter's reference to Palestine and Zionists, Abu Kamal's widow offered another explanation that the real motive for the shooting spree was not political but rooted in financial ruin. The letter had also named two business partners, who Abu Kamal claimed swindled him out of money, losing $300,000 in a business venture. At that point, she said he became suicidal. His daughter added that he could not return home after losing the money.Killer's daughter admits it was political Mahmoud Habboush https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/killer-daughter-admits-political-article-1.233826 Daily News February 20, 2007 September 28, 2022 live limited https://archive.today/20130427114024/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/killer-daughter-admits-political-article-1.233826 April 27, 2013 Fathiya Abu Kamal told the press: My husband is not a terrorist, he was just hopeless. He was aged, he had nothing to do with politics, or terrorism, or crime.Giuliani blames weak gun laws for shooting http://www.cnn.com/US/9702/24/empire.shoot/ CNN February 24, 1997 October 17, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20240614121602/http://www.cnn.com/US/9702/24/empire.shoot/ June 14, 2024 In February 2007, 10 years after the shooting, the New York Daily News reported that Abu Kamal's daughter, Linda, was "tired of lying" about her father's motives for the attack. She told the Daily News that her father wanted to punish the U.S. for supporting Israel and revealed that her mother's 1997 account was a cover story fabricated by the Palestinian Authority: A Palestinian Authority official advised us to say the attack was not for political reasons because that would harm the peace agreement with Israel. We didn't know that he was martyred for patriotic motivations, so we repeated what we were told to do.... His goal was patriotic. He wanted to take revenge from the Americans, the British, the French and the Israelis.... He wrote that after he raised his children and made sure that his family was all right he decided to avenge in the highest building in America to make sure they get his message. Aftermath Following the shooting New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called for more consistent gun control laws across the US, saying "It should be as difficult to get a gun in Florida as it is in New York City." See also New York City 1990s Palestine 1994 Brooklyn Bridge shooting 2000 Bronx terror attack 2009 Bronx terrorism plot 2011 Manhattan terrorism plot 2012 Empire State Building shooting References Category:1997 murders in the United States Category:1997 mass shootings in the United States Category:1997 in New York City Category:1990s in Manhattan Category:February 1997 crimes in the United States Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in the United States Category:Palestinian-American history Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 1997 Category:Terrorist incidents in New York City Category:Palestinian political violence Category:Murder–suicides in New York City Category:Empire State Building Category:Murder in New York City Category:Deaths by firearm in Manhattan Category:Crimes in Manhattan Category:Mass shootings in New York City