Jewish Commmunity Center in Argentina Bombed

On July 18, 1994, a Renault van packed with explosives crashed into the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Jewish Community Center). The ensuing blast killed 85 people, including 67 inside the building and destroyed the center completely. Iran is widely believed to be responsible for the attack.

The Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), established in 1894, has played a crucial role in supporting the Jewish community in Argentina. However, on July 18, 1994, this organization became the target of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the nation's history. A suicide bomber, driving a Renault van laden with over 600 pounds of ammonium nitrate and gasoline, detonated the vehicle in front of AMIA's building in Buenos Aires. The explosion caused catastrophic damage, collapsing the load-bearing walls and resulting in the building's complete destruction.

Inside the building, 67 individuals tragically lost their lives, and an additional 18 bystanders on the street were killed by the explosion's impact. This horrific event marked a dark day in Argentina's history and the global Jewish community.

The AMIA bombing occurred just two years after a similar terrorist attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which claimed 29 lives. Both attacks shook the nation and highlighted the presence and consequences of international terrorism in Argentina. The Islamic Jihad Organization, linked to Hezbollah – the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon – claimed responsibility for the embassy attack. In the case of the AMIA bombing, the Argentine government formally accused Iran of orchestrating the attack. Despite these allegations, the pursuit of justice has been fraught with challenges, and, to date, no individuals have been successfully prosecuted and brought to justice for these heinous acts.