1964 United States Embassy in Libreville bombings

Terrorist incident in Gabon June 2026 thumb|The United States Embassy in Libreville The United States Embassy in Libreville, Gabon was bombed on 5 March 1964 and again on 8 March. Background Two weeks before the bombings, Gabon had undergone an abortive coup d'état against its president, Leon M'ba. Following the attempted coup, some Gabonese mistakenly identified the United States as a co-conspirator in the attempted coup.https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/197659472.html?dids=197659472:197659472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=APR+08%2C+1964&author=By+Russell+Warren+Howe+The+Washington+Post+Foreign+Service&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Election+Sunday+to+Test+French+%27Counter-Coup%27+in+Gabon&pqatl=google https://archive.today/20130104131727/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/197659472.html?dids=197659472:197659472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=APR+08,+1964&author=By+Russell+Warren+Howe+The+Washington+Post+Foreign+Service&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Election+Sunday+to+Test+French+'Counter-Coup'+in+Gabon&pqatl=google dead January 4, 2013 Election Sunday to Test French "Counter-Coup" in Gabon Howe Russell Warren 7 April 1964 The Washington Post D7 8 September 2008 Time asserted that French officials helped spread the rumor of American involvement in the coup.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940365,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20081009060510/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940365,00.html dead October 9, 2008 Sure Cure for Sterility 27 March 1964 10 August 2008 Time Bombings On 5 March, William F. Courtney, deputy chief of the embassy, received a call from a man identifying himself as DuPont and demanding all Americans leave Gabon. Two other phone calls threatening an imminent attack were received by the United States Information Service. During a rainstorm about 8:15 that night, a small bomb exploded outside the embassy. The explosion, which occurred at a time when the building was closed and locked, resulted in damage to the embassy sign and the cracking of two windows.https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/07/archives/americans-score-french-in-gabon-officials-say-they-instigate-antius.html Americans Score French in Gabon 7 March 1964 The New York Times 3 7 September 2008 Following the bombing, French Gabonese made more threatening phone calls to the embassy.https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/11/archives/frenchafrican-bitterness-is-increasing-in-gabon.html French-African Bitterness Is Increasing in Gabon Garrison Lloyd 11 March 1964 The New York Times 15 7 September 2008 A second bomb exploded roughly 50 feet from the embassy two nights later, causing no damage. A drive-by shooting, during which at least five rounds of buckshot were fired from a 12-gauge automatic shotgun, riddled the second story windows with over 30 holes. William Courtney, the American chargé d'affaires, noticed two Europeans in a Simca automobile drive past the embassy at roughly 9:20 PM, one hour before the shooting and bombing. An unnamed American official said that he saw a car circle the embassy 10 minutes after the bombing. Two Gabonese policemen were assigned to protect the building, and M'ba ordered an investigation into the bombings.https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0916FD355E147A93C2A81788D85F408685F9 Gunmen in Gabon Rake U.S. Mission: Whites Again Bomb Building in Former French State -- Nobody Is Injured Garrison Lloyd 10 March 1964 The New York Times 1–5 8 September 2008 He denounced the allegations against Americans, saying: Nothing permits to determine that the United States played a role in the recent events. However, relations of friendship existing between members of the United States Embassy and some politicians who participated in the rebellion could have given this impression to some, an impression which I do not share. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30915F9395415738DDDAE0994DB405B848AF1D3 Gabon Chief Clears U.S. of Role in Plot 16 March 1964 The New York Times 16 8 September 2008 See also Attacks on the United States References Category:Attacks on diplomatic missions in Gabon Libreville Category:1964 in Gabon Category:Terrorist incidents in Africa in 1964 Category:Gabon–United States relations Category:20th century in Libreville Category:Terrorist incidents in Gabon Category:Organised events in Libreville Category:Building bombings in Africa