Age of Terror

Related BBC Sites

Print this

Age of Terror

Nairobi bombing of the US embassy

Age of Terror

  • part one
    The 1976 hijacking of an Air France plane on a flight from Tel Aviv to Paris
  • part two
    Two events in 1987 contributed to the road to peace in Northern Ireland
  • part three
    How Islamic extremists hijacked a plane in Algiers in 1994 on its way to Paris
  • part four
    The bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, Osama Bin Laden's first major strike

In his epic new series, the Age of Terror, journalist Peter Taylor traces the modern history and development of terrorism through four major acts of terror over more than 30 years.

In each episode Peter Taylor investigates a notorious terror attack that was emblematic of a particular phase in the modern history of political violence

Age of Terror - Part One

The first programme in the series tells the extraordinary story of the 1976 hijacking of a plane by Palestinians in alliance with German Marxist revolutionaries.

The hijackers issued a surprising order.

They told the pilot to fly to Uganda... the fiefdom of one of Africa's most controversial leaders, Idi Amin.

The hijackers demanded the release of 40 Palestinian prisoners in Israel and six prisoners in Germany within three days.

In a chilling twist to the ordeal, the hijackers called out the names of all the Israeli hostages and put them in a separate room.

They then set all the other hostages free.

Once back in Paris the released hostages told the authorities about the separation.

Within hours Israel's Defence Force had formulated a plan and an elite strike force called Sayeret Matkal - specially trained troops to combat terrorism - and 200 infantry were on their way to Uganda.

The deadline for the demands had been extended, but the hours were ticking by.

Find out how events unfolded as a government sent in rescuers to overcome a group of paramilitary revolutionaries.

First broadcast Wednesday 4 June 2008.

Print this

Terms of Use

The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.

All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties.

You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast.

To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of or connected to the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.

See the full BBC Podcast: Standard Licence Terms here.