fbpx

06.10.

1981: Egyptian President and Nobel Prize Winner Killed

1981: Egyptian President and Nobel Prize Winner Killed
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/ Sadat (left), with President Jimmy Carter, in Washington, D.C. on April 8, 1980, during a visit to the White House

Story Highlights

  • Historical event:
  • 6 October 1981
  • On this day, Sadat participated in a military parade in Cairo. It was supposed to be safe because the soldiers weren't issued real ammunition. Still, one group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli armed itself and got ready for action.

Egyptian president Sadat was a thorn in the side of Arab ultra-nationalists due to his peacemaking actions in Palestine.



For his efforts in reconciling the Arabs and Jews, he was even awarded the Nobel Prize. Because of all this, the Islamic Jihad Organization planned his assassination.

On this day Sadat participated in a military parade in Cairo. It was supposed to be safe because the soldiers weren’t issued real ammunition. Still, one group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli armed itself and got ready for action. When their truck reached Sadat’s grandstand, they got out and stood to attention. Lieutenant Ismalbouli made as to salute Sadat, but then threw three hand grenades towards him, while his fellow soldiers fired their assault rifles.

The number of people killed on the grandstand was quite high. Eleven people were killed in addition to Sadat, including the Cuban ambassador, a Coptic bishop, and an Omani general. Twenty-eight others were wounded, including Egyptian vice president Mubarak and Irish defense minister James Tully. Lieutenant Islambouli was arrested, sentenced to death and executed. Mubarak then came to power in Egypt.

Facebook Comments Box









Related posts