Historical Events tagged with "hostage"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Norrmalmstorg robbery and hostage crisis

August 28th, 1973 51 years ago

In Stockholm, two criminals, Jan-Erik Olsson and Clark Olofsson, took hostages in a bank robbery, leading to a tense 6-day standoff with police. The hostages were threatened but found themselves oddly sympathetic towards their captors. This peculiar behavior paved the way for the concept known as Stockholm syndrome, highlighting the psychological complexity of hostage situations.

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Crime & Law

Munich Massacre at Olympic Games

September 6th, 1972 52 years ago

The Munich Massacre involved the murder of eleven Israeli athletes by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September during the Munich Olympic Games. After being taken hostage, nine athletes and a German police officer were killed in a failed rescue attempt, following the initial killing of two athletes a day earlier. This violent incident shocked the world and highlighted the tension between Israel and Palestine.

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Politics & Government

Simultaneous Hijackings by Palestinian Terrorists

September 6th, 1970 54 years ago

Two passenger jets traveling from Europe to New York were hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and diverted to Dawson's Field in Jordan. This incident marked the beginning of a series of high-profile hijackings intended to gain international attention for the Palestinian cause. The hijackers, using weapons and explosives, took control of the aircraft, leading to a tense standoff with authorities and a major diplomatic crisis.

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Military & Warfare

Richard I Orders Massacre at Ayyadieh

August 20th, 1191 833 years ago

Richard I of England commanded the killing of Muslim hostages in Ayyadieh during the Third Crusade, resulting in the death of approximately 2,600 to 3,000 individuals. This decision followed the capture of the city by Crusader forces, driven by tensions and the desire to prevent enemy threats. The victims were predominantly non-combatants who were captured during the siege, illustrating the brutal realities of warfare during this period.

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