Incident Summary:

3/21/1970: In a series of related attacks, a group called Puerto Rican Resistance claimed credit for an incendiary device that ignited at Bloomingdale's Department Store in Manhattan, New York, United States. There were no casualties but the firebomb caused minor damage.

GTD ID:
197003210002

When:
1970-03-21

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

New York

City:
New York City

Location Details:
Manhattan

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Department Store
Specific Description Bloomingdale's Department Store
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Gasoline or Alcohol
Weapon Details
Cigarette box containing flammable material, batteries, and a watch mechanism
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information Part of a multiple attack with 197003210003. Four Ecuadorians were originally detained for the bombings but they were eventually released. The Puerto Rican Resistance claimed credit for the incident in a letter to the New York Daily News.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Puerto Rican Resistance Movement Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Letter)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Committee on Government Operations United States Senate, "Riots, Civil, and Criminal Disorders," U.S. Government Printing Office, August 6, 1970.
Robert D. McFadden, "2 Stores Targets of Arson Devices," New York Times, March 22, 1970.
"Chicago 'Bomb Factory' Probe Seeks Links to Those in N.Y.," Washington Post, April 1, 1970.