Israeli El Al security officials pointed to the success of measures introduced at El Al offices everywhere in thwarting plans of an Arab terrorist to break into the El Al Athens office Thursday.
The terrorist, who entered the office front door, found himself facing a second door which had been closed by a security guard who had seen the terrorist entering. When the terrorist found he could not force the second door, he fled. Officials here said it was possible he had some partners but the El Al offices entrance was attempted by one terrorist.
It was learned that an Israeli diplomat arrived in the Amalia Hotel when the terrorist was holding 17 people there as hostages. The diplomat immediately saw what had happened and he disappeared. Two Israeli women were there as well, a 70-year-old grandmother and her granddaughter. They simply evaded the terrorist and left the hotel.
Miss Israel, Limor Sharir, was in Athens to compete for the Miss Universe title. The Arab terrorist reportedly demanded during his negotiations with the Greek authorities, that the Israeli contestant be ousted from the contest. When Miss Sharir heard of this she said: “Over my dead body. I came here to compete and not to run away.” She was kept under close guard by special security men and Greek police at the hotel where she was staying close to the Amalia Hotel. The terrorist was later permitted to leave Greece on a Kuwait-bound airliner.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
