Japanese Red Army Founder Released From Jail (Behind attack on US Embassy in KL 1975).

 

Above : Sat May 28, 2022 Japanese Red Army founder Fusako Shigenobu leaves jail in Tokyo after spending 20 years behind bars. 

Below : Fusako Shigenobu when she was arrested in Osaka, Japan in 2000

‘Empress of terror’: Japanese Red Army founder released from prison

• Fusako Shigenobu, served 20 years for French embassy siege, masterminded Tel Aviv attack
• Sat 28 May 2022 
• founder of terrorist organisation in 1970s freed from prison after 20-years 
• “empress of terror”, Fusako Shigenobu founded Japanese Red Army
• radical leftist group carried out armed attacks worldwide
• Sat, 76-year-old Shigenobu left the prison in Tokyo

“I apologise for the inconvenience my arrest has caused ???

• masterminded 1972 attack on Tel Aviv’s Lod airport, 26 dead, 80 injured
  
• Shigenobu fugitive in Middle East for 30 years 
• arrested in Osaka in Nov 2000 after secretly returning to Japan
• sentenced to 20 yrs for 1974 siege of French embassy in the Hague.

• Shigenobu maintained innocence 
• three Red Army militants stormed embassy, ambassador, 10 staff hostage
  
• standoff ended by freeing Red Army guerrilla, flew off to Syria
• Shigenobu did not take part personally but coordinated operation
• Shigenobu was 20, became involved in leftist movement, left Japan aged 25

• She announced Red Army’s disbanding from prison in April 2001
• 2008 diagnosed with colon and intestinal cancer

Shigenobu's Reign of terror

• February 1971: Shigenobu founds the Japanese Red Army in Lebanon
• May 1972: Group kills 26, injures 80 in attack at Lod airport in Tel Aviv
• Sept 1974: French embassy stormed in The Hague. 
• Aug 1975 : More than 50 hostages taken at US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
• September 1977: Japan Airlines plane hijacked and forced to land in Dhaka, Japanese government releases six members and pays $6m ransom
• April 1988: Five killed in Red Army bombing of US military social club in Naples
• November 2000: Shigenobu arrested in Osaka

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.