New York, NY, July 17, 2012 … On the 18th Anniversary of the 1994 terrorist bombing of the Jewish community's AMIA-DAIA building in Buenos Aires, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called again on the government of Argentina to fully investigate the attack and work to counter Iranian influence in Latin America.
On July 18, 1994, a suicide terrorist drove a car filled with hundreds of kilograms of explosives into the AMIA-DAIA building in Buenos Aires, killing 85 people and injuring hundreds. The perpetrators have not been arrested or prosecuted.
"Eighteen years after the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentina, which targeted the largest Jewish community in Latin America, justice for the hundreds of innocent victims remains elusive," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We renew our call to the Argentine government to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous attack, including the Iranian and Hezbollah masterminds. As the threat of an Iranian nuclear regime becomes imminent, it is imperative that Argentina sends a message that terrorism and those who support it will not be tolerated."
In a letter to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner timed to the 18th anniversary of the attack, ADL praised the government for its efforts to advance the investigation and urged the President "to publicly affirm that your government will spare no effort to identify and prosecute all those involved in this attack, both inside and outside of Argentina."
In the 18 years since the attack, which Iran is credited with masterminding, the Islamic Republic's presence in Latin America has expanded greatly and continues to grow. The League also urged the Argentine government to work with other regional and international leaders to halt Iran's ongoing defiance of the international community.