| Besançon courthouse attack | |
| Map: | Besancon dot.png |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| Location: | Besançon, France |
| Date: | 9 May 1970 |
| Time: | 10:30 pm |
| Timezone: | Paris |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Injuries: | 0 |
| Perpetrator: | Right-wing extremists |
| Weapons: | IED |
| Numparts: | Two |
| Motive: | Political terrorism |
A terrorist attack targeted the Besançon courthouse on 9 May 1970. It was perpetrated with a bomb by two men from OAS and UDR movements, in a context of resurgence of far-right violence in France.
On 9 May 1970, at 10:30 pm, the place du Huit-Septembre (September 8 Square) was shaken by an explosion.[1] The Besançon courthouse was just attacked[2] [3] with a bomb containing explosives and scrap metal.[1] Damage was substantial but limited : only the porch, the bay windows, and the salle des pas perdus (hall of lost steps), partly classifieds, were seriously affected.[1] A couple and their baby narrowly escaped the impact, but no one injuries were reported.[1] The mayor, the socialist Jean Minjoz, immediately condemned this act, while the investigation began.[1] Witnesses said they saw a man throw a device through, before escaping in an accomplice's car.[1] At first the attack was attributed to the left[3] [4] [5] but two individuals were arrested on 14 May with the number of their a registration plate.[1] They were former soldiers, workers at the Rhodiaceta factory, one was a member of the OAS and the other a member of the UDR[3] [6] [4] [7] [8] acting for defiant motives possibly related to access to power through the SAC.[9] [10] [2] The suspects admitted the facts, while weapons and ammunition were found.[1]