Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Report That Palestinian Guerrillas Trained in Prague by Russian, East German Experts

July 30, 1970
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Large numbers of Palestinian terrorists are being trained by Russian and East German experts in Prague, reports today’s “Le Figaro” in a detailed dispatch from its Vienna correspondent. The usually reliable French paper says that the Palestinians, carrying Egyptian passports, arrive in Prague in groups of some 30 to 40 men. They are first housed in a building situated in the Devyce area of the city near the Chinese embassy where they are given theoretical instructions in sabotage action. Their instructors, placed under the orders of Russian Major Grigoriev, are mainly Russian and East German. The translators attached to the base are former German Nazis who had found refuge in Egypt after the Second World War and thus speak Arabic. After a six to eight week stay in Prague, the trainees are taken to a camp situated near the city Kosice In Slovakia where they spent some four months undergoing practical training in sabotage, bomb manipulation, grenade throwing, mining and close combat. The French paper reports that the plans for the training had probably been arranged by El Fatah leader Yasir Arafat during his recent visit to Moscow.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement