On this day March 14 1982 agents of the South African government carried out a bombing attack on the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC) in London. The attack was part of South Africa’s efforts to suppress anti apartheid activism abroad.
The explosion caused significant damage to the building but fortunately no one was killed. The attack was widely condemned by the international community and further increased global pressure against the apartheid regime in South Africa.
80s insight: The bombing was later linked to South Africa’s intelligence services which had been conducting covert operations against anti apartheid activists worldwide.