1987 Vientiane bombing

1987 Vientiane Bombing
Location	Vientiane, Laos
Date	9 March, 1987 6 A.M.
Target	Soviet cultural center
Attack type	Bombing
Deaths	1
Injured	1
Motive	Assassination of Eduard A. Shevardnadze

The 1987 Vientiane bombing was an attack that occurred on March 9, 1987, at 6 A.M. at the Soviet cultural center in Vientiane, Laos. The attack is believed to have been an assassination attempt on Eduard A. Shevardnadze, who was supposed to arrive on a diplomatic meeting later that day.^[1][2][3] Officials said a Laotian guard was killed and another wounded by the explosion, while the three-story building sustained only minor damages.^[3]

Reactions

• Soviet Union - Soon after the event, Soviet spokesman Gennady I. Gerasimov told a news briefing: “We only have quite preliminary information that there was an explosion in the center of the city. We have no information as to causes and results.” Shevardnadze visited the city despite the bomb.^[3]
• Laos - Phanethong Phommahaxay, acting head of the Laotian Foreign Ministry’s press department, charged that the Thailand government sent an armed exile to carry out the attack.^[4]

References

1. "Shevardnadze may have been target of bombing". UPI. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
2. "Laos Blast Is Reported On Shevardnadze Trip". The New York Times. Reuters. 10 March 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
3. "Shevardnadze in Laos; Soviet Center Bombed". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 11 March 1987. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
4. "Official Hints at Thai Connection in Bombing at Soviet Center". Associated Press. Bangkok. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.