Categories
Perspectives

September 14, 1911: Assassination of Russian Prime Minister

On September 14, 1911 Russian Premier Pyotr Stolypin was shot by a ‘revolutionary’ named Dmitry Bogrov

KIEV, UKRAINE – If you are going to assassinate someone, aim high: prime minister is not a bad move.

I would imagine we all hope to become ‘somebody’ someday, no? Well, maybe except for very shy people happy with remaining in the background. Many others, however, want to get ‘noticed’.

Some, of course, become famous for being famous, i.e. without having really done anything useful or fame-inducing. Whom does that bring to mind? Hmmmm…..

Look at me! Please? (Photo: Derrick Glynn on flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Terrorists are no different. As former US Green Beret and guest on my podcast (not once but twice!) Brian Jenkins said ‘famously’: terrorists want lots of people watching. And what better way to do so than to kill someone famous?

On this day in 1911

Russian Premier Pyotr Stolypin was shot by a ‘revolutionary’ named Dmitry Bogrov. The PM was attending an opera when Bogrov, who had used his police connections to gain admittance to the theatre, fired twice. Stolypin died of his wounds four days later.

You, gentlemen, are in need of great upheavals; we are in need of Great Russia

The epitaph on Stolypin’s gravestone

Bogrov was caught trying to flee and hanged 10 days after the assassination. I had never heard of him (nor of Stolypin in all honesty). I guess he can’t be THAT famous then, assassination or not!

Read More Today in Terrorism

By Phil Gurski

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. Phil is a 32-year veteran of CSE and CSIS and the author of six books on terrorism.

Leave a Reply