NEW YORK CITY – Sometimes a successful terrorist attack is a good thing if it staves off a much larger one.
Um, did that introductory sentence just say what I thought it did? How can I, of all people, ask that? After all, did I not work for an agency that did everything in its power to STOP attacks from happening not celebrating them?
And yet, on occasion an event takes place and, as horrible as it was, its occurrence prevents something worse from happening. That has to be good, right?
On this day in 2017
A 28-year old white supremacist stabbed and killed 66-year old Timothy Caughman in what he hoped was a ‘warm-up’ for a mass killing of black men in Times Square. The victim was gathering bottles to recycle around the corner from his home when he was killed by James Harris Jackson with a sword.
The defendant was motivated purely by hatred: this was an act most likely of terrorism.
Assistant district attorney Joan Illuzzi
The white terrorist had apparently stalked other potential targets before settling on Mr. Caughman. Interestingly, Jackson turned himself in to police three days later, pleaded guilty to the murder in January 2019 and was sentenced to life without parole the following month. What this demonstrates is cowardice in the highest degree and, thankfully, a man whose larger plans were thwarted.
Read More Today in Terrorism
May 31, 1906: Spanish anarchist bombs royal wedding
On May 31, 1906 a Spanish anarchist threw a bomb hoping to hit King Alfonso XIII, killing 24 and wounding more than 100.
May 30, 2009: Anti-government group bombs TV station in Ecuador
On May 30, 2009 two pamphlet-bombs exploded outside an Ecuadorian TV station and ministry: no victims or significant damage ensued.
May 29, 2016: ISIS uses chlorine gas in terrorist attack
On May 29, 2016 35 civilians were wounded in an ISIS attack using rockets containing chlorine gas in Iraq’s Nineveh Province.
