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Sydney Hilton bombing

The Sydney Hilton bombing occurred on 13 February, 1978, when a bomb exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia. At the time the hotel was the site of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a biennial meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations.

Contents
1 The bombing
2 Inquiries and Royal Commission
3 Speculation and conspiracy theories
4 Political effects and significance
5 Annotated bibliography and references

The bombing

The bomb, planted in a rubbish bin, exploded in a garbage truck outside the hotel at 1:40am. It killed two garbagemen and a policeman guarding the entrance to the hotel lounge. It also injured several others. Several foreign leaders were staying in the hotel at the time, but none were injured. Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser immediately called out the army to guard the remainder of the CHOGM meeting [1].

Although the bombing has been described as a terrorist act, there is no consensus concerning who perpetrated it.

Inquiries and Royal Commission

The bombing played a role in the 1982 trial and conviction of three members of the Ananda Marga sect – Tim Anderson, Ross Dunn and Paul Alister – on charges of an attempted assassination, which the prosecution associated with the Sydney Hilton bombing. They were pardoned and released in 1988. Thereafter, Anderson was arrested for the Sydney Hilton bombing, but he was pardoned and released in 1989. [2]

A Royal Commission, headed by Justice Hope the Royal Commissioner, was established.

No one actually claimed responsibility for the terrorist act and there is controversy over whether the true perpetrators have yet to be discovered.

Speculation and conspiracy theories

Whether this article section is biased is disputed. It is requested that this section be [3]

Political effects and significance

The episode is generally regarded as the first and only domestic terrorist event to hit Australia's shores and had a profound impact on the nation. It highlighted the corruption which blighted the New South Wales Police Service and resulted in mounting pressure on the Commonwealth for increased support for the anti-terrorism activities of the intelligence services.


Annotated bibliography and references

  • Conspiracy: Australian Broadcasting Commission documentary, Daryl Dellora, 1995 (shown on True Stories series). Reviews most of the evidence. Easily available articles reviewing the documentary include:-
    • ABC George Negus discussion with Dellora.
    • filmartdoco review, includes enumeration of the key issues.
    • shootersnews Good review of the main points made by Griffiths.
    • Sydney Morning Herald, The Hilton bombing, Jane Freeman, February 6, 1995. Provides a reasonably accessible review and summary.
  • Wilsons Almanac Detailed article into the bombing and associated events, including the special branch enquiries.
  • http://members.tripod.com/hilton_bombing/index.html
  • Sydney Morning Herald, The path of bliss..., Ben Hills, October 25, 1990. Discusses pardon of the Ananda Marga three. Also revies the relationship between their trial and the Hilton bombing.
  • The Guardian, "Treason", they cry, Tim Anderson, July 3, 2002 [4]
  • Molomby Tom, SPIES BOMBS AND THE PATH OF BLISS - Ananda Marga and the Hilton bombing
  • Greenleft Article Quotes Terry Griffiths.
  • NSW Hansard 19 Sep 95 Questions from Ms Kirkby and replies from the minister of police. (Search for "Hilton"). Confirms Frank Walker's claim amongst other things.
  • NSW Hansard 21 Sep 95 Call for Hilton Hotel bombing enquiry. Speach by Mr Tink, ex Attorney General, complaining of changes to publically available documents, amongst other things.
  • Inspector General of Security (IGIS) 1992/3 report Confirms that ASIO had been monitoring Ananda Marga. Questions whether they could have prevented the bombing. Does not directly address the question of whether ASIO was actually responsible for the Hilton bombing.
  • IGIS report 1991/2 Very similar to 1992/3 report.
  • The Age
  • http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1983/45.html
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