The terrorists’ accomplices, Hasan Izz-Al-Din and Ali Atwa, still remain at large. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to their capture.
By: WIN Staff
On June 14, 1985, the world was left in shock after Hezbollah terrorists hijacked a Trans World Airlines aircraft en route from Athens to San Diego.
Over a period of seventeen days, the hijackers directed the plane holding 153 passengers back and forth between Beirut and Algiers. The hijackers demanded the release of 700 Shi’ite prisoners in Israeli custody and called for international condemnation of Israel and the United States.
Passengers who had Jewish sounding names were separated from the others, and U.S. military personal were beaten regularly. During one of the stops at Beirut International Airport, the Hezbollah terrorists shot U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem in the head and dumped his body on the tarmac. Eventually, the rest of the passengers and crew were released after some of the terrorist demands were met.
According to Greek media, one of the hijackers was arrested this past weekend while attempting to board a cruise ship on the Greek island of Syros.
Mohammed Ali Hammadi, was first arrested and received a life sentence in 1987 by Germany for the hijacking and for the murder of Stethem. However, in 2005, Hammadi was set free after Germany agreed to let him go in exchange for the release of two Germans who had been abducted in Beirut.
On February 14, 2006, the FBI placed Hammadi on their most-wanted list. His accomplices, Hasan Izz-Al-Din and Ali Atwa, still remain at large. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to their capture.
The now 65-year-old terrorist is set to be transferred to the Korydallos high-security prison in Athens for extradition proceedings, a police spokeswoman told the AP.
“Based on instructions by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Gebran Bassil, the Lebanese embassy in Athens is following the case of Lebanese journalist Mohammad Saleh who has been detained by Greek police,” the ministry said, according to Lebanon’s state-owned National News Agency.
“It made the necessary phone-calls with the Syros police division where he was arrested — requesting that he be granted a lawyer and a medic,” the statement read.
“A charges d’affaires will head to Athens at 7am on Sunday to Syros island to meet with Saleh and to offer him consular assistance,” the Ministry added.
“The suspect denies any involvement in the hijacking,” police spokesman Theodoros Chronopoulos told CNN.
“He has been remanded in custody on the island of Syros and is to be transferred to a high security prison in Athens,” the police spokesman added.
(WIN, CNN)
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