| 1990 |
A third faction of the FLNC, the Rezistanza, forms. Since there is little information on which faction is responsible for which acts, the FLNC will be treated as a single organization in this chronology unless information is available on which faction is responsible for the act in question. |
| Jan 7, 1990 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen invade the Corsican holiday island of Cavello, overpower 16 of its residents and set off bombs which destroy 2 restaurants. |
| Jan 14, 1990 |
About 60 suspected FLNC gunmen burst into a holiday nudist camp in Corsica and hold foreign (mostly German) tourists at gunpoint while they blow up holiday homes. |
| Mar 21, 1990 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen seize about 25 kg (55 lbs) of explosives aboard a barge after overpowering its crew. |
| Apr 13, 1990 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a discotheque and several apartments at a holiday camp in Southern Corsica. |
| Sep 12, 1990 |
A caller claiming to represent the Corsican Liberation Army (ALC) claims responsibility for the bombing of 4 French banks in Corsica. The ALC has claimed responsibility for attacks in 1985 and 1987. It is believed that the ALC has recently split off from the FLNC. |
| Oct 27, 1990 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a factory on the French mainland. |
| Nov 1990 |
Thirty people have been killed by Corsican separatist terrorists in the past 9 months. |
| Nov 15, 1990 |
The FLNC officially calls off its self-proclaimed truce. This is probably in response to a French proposal for a new status for Corsica which recognizes the existence of a "Corsican people" but defines them as part of the French people. |
| Dec 7, 1990 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a dozen holiday bungalows and damage several shops in a new wave of bombing attacks. |
| Dec 31, 1990 |
The mayor of a small Corsican village is assassinated by suspected FLNC gunmen. This is the 17th assassination in 1990. |
| Jan 3, 1991 |
Gunmen believed to be from a FLNC splinter group blow up dozens of holiday homes and another bombing is foiled by police. |
| Mar 11, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb a disco and a holiday apartment block. |
| Mar 29, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 4 houses in a holiday camp. |
| Mar 31, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a house and a boat. |
| Apr 4, 1991 |
French parliament votes to continue administering Corsica like metropolitan France but recognizes that there is a distinct "Corsican people." |
| Apr 5, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a hotel under construction. |
| May 3, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen planning to blow up a motel end up giving a heart massage to the owner who is struck down by shock when 6 masked gunmen burst into his premises. The gunmen called an ambulance before leaving. |
| May 9, 1991 |
France's Constitutional Council rejects a law which recognizes the Corsicans as a distinct group. The council approves other parts of the law including the teaching of the Corsican language and culture as long as it is not compulsory. |
| May 19, 1991 |
The FLNC claims responsibility for a bombing on the French mainland. |
| May 26, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a holiday villa. |
| May 29, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up the headquarters of an elected council on Corsica. |
| Jun 10, 1991 |
The FLNC declares a truce for the summer holiday season because Corsica's economy needs tourism. |
| Jun 16, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen are blamed for 2 bombings. |
| Jul 6, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen launch 7 bombing attacks, including one on the education ministry in Paris. |
| Jul 17, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 2 banks. |
| Aug 5, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 2 buildings. |
| Aug 18, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb a sports hall. |
| Aug 30, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen raid a government building and make off with government documents. |
| Sep 6, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb an administrative building in Corsica and a Spanish bank in mainland France. |
| Nov 11, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb a nudist camp. |
| Nov 16, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 4 bungalows and 2 villas on the south coast of Corsica. |
| Dec 30, 1991 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 30 holiday villas on the east coast of Corsica. |
| 1992 |
The FLNC claims responsibility for 309 bomb attacks in 1992. |
| Feb 28, 1992 |
An upcoming National Front rally is canceled after 100 Corsican nationalists hurling stones and firecrackers scuffle with National Front supporters outside the hall where National Front leader Le Pen is due to speak. |
| May 22, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 30 bungalows in a government-owned holiday village. |
| Aug 7, 1992 |
The FLNC says that it has acted recently against drug dealing on Corsica but does not give details on its methods. Shortly after this announcement, several drug dealers are shot dead. |
| Aug 8, 1992 |
The FLNC claims responsibility for a series of bombings this week in Paris, Mice and Marseilles. |
| Oct 25, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 5 banks and government offices. |
| Oct 30, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb a bank. |
| Nov 2, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen demolish a holiday village and tie up 8 German tourists. |
| Nov 5, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 3 government buildings and 7 banks. |
| Nov 17 - 18, 1992 |
About 250 nationalist sympathizers clash with police during a crackdown against Corsican nationalist sympathizers after 20 suspected separatists are arrested. |
| Nov 24, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 50 holiday flats on Corsica and a court building on the French mainland. |
| Dec 2, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen detonate a car-bomb in a parking structure in Nice. |
| Dec 4, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen plant 24 small bombs in Corsica and 2 on the French mainland. |
| Dec 7, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb 7 holiday bungalows and a nursery owned by people from mainland France. |
| Dec 13, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 16 banks and government offices. |
| Dec 15, 1992 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a bank and a bar bringing the total number of attacks on Corsica to 370. |
| Jan 18, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 32 bombs in Corsica overnight. |
| Jan 31, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up the villa of a prominent French politician. |
| Feb 15, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 3 vacation homes in southern Corsica. |
| Feb 28, 1993 |
The FLNC claims responsibility for the bombing of 2 Education Ministry offices on mainland France. |
| May 11, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 5 bombs. |
| May 26, 1993 |
The FLNC claims responsibility for the bombing of a French travel agency. |
| Jun 13, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up three homes belonging to French pensioners. |
| Jun 23, 1993 |
The FLNC calls a unilateral truce for the summer. |
| Jun 29, 1993 |
A new separatist group the "MNA" claims responsibility for a bomb attack that injures 2 French tourists. |
| Aug 9, 1993 |
FLNC gunmen burst into a meeting of 3,500 militants in the central town of Corte and admit to killing a former member and 2 militants from rival factions. Divisions within the FLNC have deepened over the past 6 months as hard liners try to rein in moderates who support economic and cultural ties with mainland France and amid allegations of financial corruption among separatist leaders. |
| Sep 13, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up several holiday homes. |
| Nov 21, 1993 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen bomb a French army vacation camp. |
| Feb 1, 1994 |
In a move to appease separatists, the French government allows students in schools and universities to study the Corsican language for 3 hours a week. |
| Feb 16, 1994 |
Corsican separatist demonstrators force National Front leader Le Pen to leave Corsica as soon as he arrives. The demonstrators also clash with riot police. |
| Feb 17, 1994 |
The FLNC calls off a 9-month long self-imposed cease fire. They denounce French tax and investment measures as trying to buy off Corsicans and destroy their national identity. Suspected FLNC gunmen set off bombs outside court and government offices in mainland France. |
| Mar 20, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a newspaper office. |
| Mar 28, 1994 |
Police arrest 14 suspected Corsican separatists as they were preparing to set off a bomb at a French luxury resort. |
| Mar 30, 1994 |
Three bombs explode outside government offices and a 4th is defused. About 250 Corsican nationalists demonstrate outside the police station holding the 14 suspected Corsican separatists arrested a few days ago. |
| Mar 31, 1994 |
Police clash with pro-separatist Corsicans. |
| Apr 4, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 4 bombs. |
| Apr 9, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a hotel and an insurance office. |
| Apr 17, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off a bomb on a French air force base on Corsica. |
| Apr 24, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a police office. |
| May 31, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up the Corsican water authority office. |
| Jun 24, 1994 |
5 bombs wreck government offices and holiday villas. |
| Jul 4 - 5, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 12 holiday villas. |
| Jul 18, 1994 |
Gunmen wound a leading Corsican separatist parliamentarian. |
| Jul 26, 1994 |
A government office and a casino are bombed by suspected FLNC bombers. |
| Aug 18, 1994 |
A suspected FLNC car bomb explodes in the underground garage of a government building. |
| Aug 23, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a government office. |
| Aug 26, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen explode 4 bombs. |
| Sep 15, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up offices belonging to the Paris regional education authority. |
| Nov 15, 1994 |
The "historical branch" of the FLNC declares that it will suspend attacks on government targets but not against property speculators and drug traffickers. |
| Nov 24, 1994 |
In the absence of a goodwill gesture from the French government, suspected FLNC bombs blow up an education ministry building and a postal sorting office. The "historical branch" of the FLNC says that it is willing to negotiate a compromise with Paris. |
| Nov 28, 1994 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up 3 holiday villas. |
| Jan 14, 1995 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 5 bombs. |
| Feb 2, 1995 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a holiday complex. |
| Feb 9, 1995 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen blow up a Corsican waterworks installation. |
| Feb 16, 1995 |
A well known Corsican nationalist militant is shot dead. |
| Mar 13, 1995 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 5 bombs. |
| Mar 20, 1995 |
Suspected FLNC gunmen set off 8 bombs in public buildings. |
| Mar 24, 1995 |
30 pro-separatist students occupy the local government building in the central town of Corte and hold a government official hostage to demand more public service jobs. After the students are arrested, 200 relatives and separatist sympathizers riot outside the police station, tossing firebombs at the station and setting a car on fire. |
| Apr 22, 1995 |
Four bombs are detonated including one at the home of the mayor of Corsica's capital city, Ajaccio. No one claims responsibility. |
| Apr 29, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists explode 6 bombs in Ajaccio. |
| May 13, 1995 |
Masked gunmen identifying themselves as FLNC members blow up 5 villas in a holiday village. |
| May 19, 1995 |
An unknown gunman kills a militant Corsican nationalist and wounds another. |
| Jul 26, 1995 |
Three Corsican nationalists are shot dead in 2 separate incidents. 2 members of the Movement for Self Determination (MPA) are shot dead in one incident. In another incident a member of the Historical faction of the FLNC is shot dead. |
| Aug 3, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists bomb a university building. |
| Aug 10, 1995 |
Reuters reports that 8 Corsican separatists have been shot in the last 6 months in what police call a factional feud between the MPA and the Historical faction of the FLNC. The FLNC blames the shootings on French security forces. |
| Aug 24, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists bomb a state education building in Ajaccio. |
| Aug 30, 1995 |
Two die when gunmen fire on a supporter of the MPA. |
| Aug 31, 1995 |
A member of the Historical faction of the FLNC is shot dead. |
| Sep 10, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists detonate several bombs across the island. |
| Sep 22, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists bomb a customs house in Ajaccio. |
| Sep 24, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists bomb 3 restaurants and a housing block under construction. |
| Sep 26, 1995 |
Firemen discover an arms cache believed to belong to Corsican separatists |
| Oct 9, 1995 |
The Historical faction of the FLNC announces a unilateral cease fire in its feud with the MPA. The MPA rejects the cease fire heightening tension between the two groups. |
| Oct 29, 1995 |
A senior MPA official is assassinated. |
| Nov 16, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists bomb a social security building. |
| Nov 17, 1995 |
Suspected Corsican separatists explode a car bomb outside a police station. |
| Jan 1, 1996 |
Over New Year's, a member of the Cuncolta Naziunalista - the legal arm of the FLNC Canal Historique - was shot by several gunmen as he left a bar. Three bombs went off in the Corsican capital overnight - in a reporter's apartment, a store, and a restaurant. According to police, 36 people were killed in Corsica in 1995. (Agence France Presse 1/1/96) |
| 1996 |
A poll released in the spring found that only 10 percent of Corsicans favor independence. (Agence France Presse 12/18/96) |
| Jan 4, 1996 |
The FLNC Historic Channel claimed responsibility for a bomb which destroyed a wing of a local administration building in Ajaccio. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 1/4/96) |
| Jan 6, 1996 |
The French newspaper Liberation reported that the French government has opened secret negotiations with the terrorists. (Agence France Presse 1/7/96) |
| Jan 7, 1996 |
The FLNC bombed an education administration building in Bastia. (Agence France Presse 1/7/96) |
| Jan 9, 1996 |
The group Resistenza claimed responsibility for 26 bombs which went off in banks and government offices, as well as airline offices and France Telecom during the night of the 1/8-1/9. Another 11 did not go off, or were defused by officers. The group threatened "an all-out civil war," unless the government compromised in seeking a "genuine political resolution" to the Corsican problem. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur & Agence France Presse 1/9/96) |
| Jan 12, 1996 |
The Historic faction of the FLNC announced a planned three-month cease-fire in advance of negotiations with the French government. In exchange, they asked for recognition of the Corsican people, the use of Corsican as an official language, increased local governmental control, and the establishment of a Corsican education system. French Interior Minister Jean-Louis Debre rejected the offer, saying he does not negotiate with terrorists. A member of A Concolta Nationalizta later claimed the press conference was sanctioned by the Juppe government. (Agence France Presse 1/12/96, 1/15/96 and 11/4/96) |
| Feb 18, 1996 |
A member of the ANC separatist group was killed. Police believe it was revenge for the assassination of a FLNC member on the 16th. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 2/18/96) |
| Mar 8, 1996 |
Gunmen opened fire on a member of the ANC, who survived because he was wearing a bullet-proof vest. (Agence France Presse 3/8/96) |
| Mar 12, 1996 |
French prosecutors began investigating the threats made against the French paper Liberation by the FLNC. In the last week, the paper had received a bomb threat, its reporter on Corsican affairs had his house sprayed with bullets, and a telephone threat made to "eliminate" the reporter if the newspaper continued to report on the Corsican conflict. (Agence France Presse 3/12/96) |
| Mar 23, 1996 |
French police arrested two men attempting to leave a powerful truck bomb outside the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ajaccio. One of the two was believed to be close to the FLNC. (Agence France Presse 3/23/96) |
| Apr 2, 1996 |
Five bombs detonated within thirty minutes of each other at various locations in Corsica, targeting gendarmerie posts and a hotel. Police believed nationalists are responsible. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 4/2/96) |
| Apr 12, 1996 |
The Canal Historique extended its original three-month cease-fire for another three months. (Agence France Presse 5/13/96) |
| Apr 16, 1996 |
Two died in a gunfight near the headquarters of the ANC, including a police officer. (Agence France Presse 4/16/96) |
| Apr 20, 1996 |
A bomb went off in a Bastia restaurant. (Deutsche Presse Agentur 4/20/96) |
| May 3, 1996 |
Splinter groups of the FLNC announced that they would support the French government and disband all paramilitary actions if the French would allow internal Corsican autonomy, local government reforms, the use of Corsican as an official language, the recognition of the Corsican people and the mandatory teaching of Corsican language and culture in schools. (Agence France Presse 5/3/96) |
| May 13, 1996 |
In retaliation for a police raid which captured 12 members and a cache of arms, the Canal Historique announced it would stop all dealings and negotiations with the French government. It encouraged its members to resist arrest by force if need be, and threatened to re-evaluate its cease fire decision. (Agence France Presse 5/13/96) |
| May 14, 1996 |
Suspected Corsican separatists opened fire on two police stations. A bomb found in front of a justice department building never detonated. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 5/14/96) |
| May 18, 1996 |
Prime Minister Alain Juppe announced to the National Assembly that "Corsica is France," and that he would crack down on Corsican violence. Interior Minister Debre promised to send an elite police unit to Corsica. A member of Cuncolta Naziunalista threatened that if France does not find a solution to the problems in Corsica, the violence may move to the French mainland. The week before, former Prime Minister Raymond Barre had asked the residents of Corsica to choose between independence and remaining part of France. (Agence France Presse 5/28/96) |
| Jun 8, 1996 |
Over a thousand people protested separatist violence in the Corsican capital. Two car bombs detonated the same day. The day before, the Canal Historique had announced that it would extend its cease fire for three more months. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 6/8/96) |
| Jun 25, 1996 |
France applied for permission from the European Union to create tax-free zones on Corsica. The zones were meant to help the Corsican economy. (Agence France Presse 6/25/96) |
| Jul 1, 1996 |
A car bomb in Bastia killed one member of the Cuncolta Naziunalista, and seriously injured another. A total of 15 people were injured in the attack. It was later believed to be the work of a rival nationalist group. (Agence France Presse 7/1/96 and 9/10/96) |
| Jul 17, 1996 |
French Prime Minister Alain Juppe visited Corsica and pledged that "assassins and troublemakers (will) be relentlessly sought, arrested and brought to justice." (Agence France Presse 7/17/96) |
| Aug 14, 1996 |
A bomb exploded in the courthouse of Ajaccio. Over 20 subsequent blasts over the next two weeks targeted the Ajaccio parliament building, sub-prefectures, regional procurement offices, a harbor-master's office, the car of a French government prosecutor, a tax office, and other French government buildings, until police finally arrested eight people believed to be responsible. (Agence France Presse 8/14/96, 8/20/96, 8/24/96, 8/27/96, 8/28/96, 8/30/96; Deutsche Presse-Agentur 8/18/96) |
| Sep 10, 1996 |
A car belonging to a French judge was blown up overnight. Four days earlier, the judge had released a man believed responsible for the bombing death of a nationalist leader on July 1. (Agence France Presse 9/10/96) |
| Sep 11, 1996 |
Dozens of people occupied Corsica's parliament building in Ajaccio to protest the French government's crackdown on violence in the area. In Paris, an anonymous telephone call warned of "machine gun attacks" in the area, but the politicians representing Corsica in parliament took pains to publicly agree with the government policies against violence. (Agence France Presse 9/11/96) |
| Sep 22 - 24, 1996 |
A series of bomb attacks struck six post offices and a labor department office. In the next two months, a total of 49 bombs exploded in separate incidents in Corsica and mainland France. These attacks constituted the first attacks on French soil by Corsican separatists in years. (Deutsche Press-Agentur 9/24/96 and Agence France Presse 11/29/96) |
| Oct 4, 1996 |
A bomb went off in the office of the mayor of Ile-Rousse in Corsica. (Agence France Presse 10/4/96) |
| Oct 7, 1996 |
The FLNC-Canal Historique claimed responsibility for a weekend bomb which damaged the Bordeaux city hall. Prime Minister Alain Juppe was also mayor of Bordeaux, and he had declared he would take a hard line against terrorists after the bombing. (Agence France Presse 10/7/96) |
| Oct 12, 1996 |
A "truce" declared by the FLNC-Canal Historique ended without being renewed. |
| Oct 17, 1996 |
The FLNC-Canal Historique claimed responsibility for bombs that went off in a courthouse and tax office in the French city of Nimes. (Agence France Presse 10/17/96) |
| Oct 18, 1996 |
After Prime Minister Alain Juppe announced a criminal investigation of the FLNC-Canal Historique, the group sent a message to French TV station warning him to be concerned about possible attempts on his life. (Agence France Presse 10/18/96) |
| Oct 24, 1996 |
Police arrested twelve Corsican separatists in France in connection with the bombing of the Bordeaux town hall. (Agence France Presse 10/24/96) |
| Dec 19, 1996 |
After French gendarmes wounded a Corsican separatist during a shootout, the FLNC declared itself to be "at war" with them. This implied that while most of their previous attacks had caused no casualties, they would no longer limit their attacks. Seven members of the FLNC, including a leader of the A Cuncolta Naziunalista were indicted two days before on charges ranging from gun violations to financial racketeering in relation to the "revolutionary tax." (Agence France Presse 12/19/96) |
| Jan 21, 1997 |
Bombs damaged a restaurant and a bank in Corsica. (Agence France Presse 1/21/97) |
| Jan 28, 1997 |
A bomb went off at an Air France office in Nice. The FLNC-Canal Historique claimed responsibility the following day, and are subsequently blamed for a bomb at a Nice post office on the 30th. (Agence France Presse 1/28/97 and 1/30/97) |
| Jan 30, 1997 |
The FLNC-Canal Habituel held a news conference to announce its dissolution after two years of inactivity. (Agence France Presse 1/30/97) |
| Feb 2, 1997 |
The FLNC-Canal Historique claimed responsibility for a total of 56 bombs (of a total 61 placed) which detonated overnight in bank branches, post offices and electric and phone installations in Corsica. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 2/2/97) |
| Feb 28, 1997 |
A bomb destroyed a restaurant in Corsica. (Agence France Presse 2/28/97) |
| Mar 21, 1997 |
Bombs destroyed three vacation villas owned by the same man in Southern Corsica. All were unoccupied at the time. (Agence France Presse 3/21/97) |
| Mar 29, 1997 |
Bombs damaged two banks and destroy a bar in southern Corsica. (Agence France Presse 3/29/97) |
| Apr 6, 1997 |
A bomb detonated outside a regional comptroller's office in Bastia. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 4/6/97) |
| May 11, 1997 |
A bomb exploded at a building site for a new town hall in Burgo, Corsica. Police began investigating allegations that nationalists ask protection money from businesses to ensure that they are not hit by bombs. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 5/11/97) |
| May 25, 1997 |
Several bombs went off on the first round of early general election polling. Two French administrative buildings and a building owned by France-Telecom in Corsica were damaged, but nobody was hurt in any of the bombings. (Agence France Presse 5/25/97) |
| Feb 6, 1998 |
The Corsican prefect was shot in the back while going to a restaurant. Police initially believed that the assassination was unrelated to Corsican separatism, in part due to the then-current cease-fire by the FLNC, but a previously unknown political group later claimed responsibility. The assassination became a rallying point for the French government, which subsequently began more extensive anti-terrorism campaigns. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 2/6/98 and Agence France Presse 2/11/98) |
| Feb 9, 1998 |
The business owned by the head of the local chamber of commerce and industry was blown up hours after his reelection as head of the organization. Another businessman was shot dead overnight, and his neighbor is later found dead on his property. (Agence France Presse 2/9/98) |
| Feb 11, 1998 |
A women's group led several thousand people in separate demonstrations in Ajaccio and Bastia. The group called for a halt to all business at 5 PM, to protest both separatist and criminal violence in Corsica. ( Agence France Presse 2/11/98) |
| Mar 3, 1998 |
France began a parliamentary inquiry into the use of public funds on the island of Corsica. At the time, Corsica received seven billion francs (1.2 billion dollars) of government aid each year, but the most recent fiscal report found the receipts to be 40 percent short. Islanders had also been accused at various times of rigging electoral lists and of taking EU funding for non-existent cattle. The money was believed to be used by criminal gangs, who in turn funded nationalist organizations. (Agence France Presse 3/3/98) |
| May 12, 1998 |
The FLNC-Canal Historique announced the end of its three month "observation period" in which it refrained from violence after the death of the Corsican prefect in February. It also renewed its call for a political solution to Corsica's problems, and claimed responsibility for a bomb which went of at a French regional office in Marseille two days before. (Agence France Presse 5/12/98) |
| Jun 28 - 29, 1998 |
Bombs detonated at a police station, a police court, and a military barracks in Corsica. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 6/29/98) |
| Sep 9, 1998 |
A parliamentary inquiry into the murder of prefect Claude Erignac in February released its final report, which dismissed French rule of Corsica as corrupt. It also found that Corsicans had an "ambiguous" attitude to the law and to democracy, an "established clientelism" and a "high crime rate" combined with "an immoderate taste for fire arms." It also rejected the idea that the French government could "buy" peace with nationalist groups through "tax breaks, writing off debts or amnesties." The French government had 39 civil servants on Corsica per 1000 inhabitants. (Agence France Presse 9/9/98) |
| Oct 11, 1998 |
Bombs damaged tax offices in Ajaccio and Bastia. (Agence France Presse 10/11/98) |
| Jan 6, 1999 |
A bomb detonated in the departmental planning and tourism bureau at Ghisonaccia, in Corsica, injuring two people. An earlier bomb at the Corsica Economic Development Agency did not cause any injuries. (Agence France Presse 1/5/99) |
| Mar 20, 1999 |
Four separate bomb attacks damaged the central post office at Bastia, the civil courthouse in Sartene, the regional planning office, and the cafeteria of a French camp at Casabianda (Agence France Presse 3/10/99) |
| Apr 5 - 6, 1999 |
Bombs damaged post offices in Ajaccio and the French port of Toulon. (Agence France Presse 4/6/99) |
| Apr 17, 1999 |
The FLNC detonated several bombs in the Air Force rest center at the Corsican airport. The guards were put out of action, and nobody was hurt in the attack. (Agence France Presse 4/18/99) |
| May 22, 1999 |
Bombs damaged the main post office and the local branch of the French electricity authority in the French city of La Ciotat. Corsican separatists were believed to be responsible. (Agence France Presse 5/22/99) |
| Aug 1 - 2, 1999 |
Bombs damaged two shops owned by the same person in Bastia, and the main tax collection office in Ajaccio. (Agence France Presse 8/2/99) |
| Aug 15, 1999 |
Police defused a bomb at the Credit Agricole bank in Ajaccio. The bomb had been planted to distract authorities during a planned bank robbery at a different bank. (Agence France-Presse 8/15/99) |
| Sep 6, 1999 |
Protestors trying to block the visit of French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to Corsica blocked the runway when his plane landed, while others detonated bombs outside public buildings in the days leading up to the visit. While in Corsica, Jospin told the assembled crowd that Corsica's problem was criminality, not a need for autonomy, and that "Any change in Corsica's status would lead to the island being ruined by violence." (Agence France Presse 9/6/99) |
| Sep 17, 1999 |
A strong bomb exploded in the office of a dean of a university Ajaccio, which had been visited by France's Education Minister Claude Allegre several months before. During that visit, Allegre rejected calls to mandate that classes be taught in the Corsican language. (Agence France Presse 9/17/99) |
| Sep 17, 1999 |
Ten commandos tied up a French farmer and his family while blowing up one of his farm buildings. The FLNC later claimed responsibility for this and a series of bombs in public buildings overnight on the 18th. A new group, the Armata Corsa, also claimed the bombings. (Agence France Presse 9/20/99 and 9/22/99) |
| Sep 22, 1999 |
Two planes were destroyed at Ghisonaccia airport on Corsica. (Agence France Presse 9/22/99) |
| Oct 7, 1999 |
Bombs destroyed a tax office and a National Forests Office during an official visit of French Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou to Corsica. (Agence France Presse 10/7/99) |
| Oct 28, 1999 |
In a show of strength, the National Liberation Front of Corsica bombed a tax office in Paris. Paris had been under particularly tight security due to the visit of the president of Iran. (Agence France Presse 11/4/99) |
| Nov 1, 2003 - Mar 18, 2005 |
Front de Libération Nationale de la Corse- Union des combattants (FLNC-UC) declares a ceasefire in November 2003, which is then terminated 18 months later in response to its leader’s, Charles Pieri, trial. (Henley, Jon. “Bomb in Corsica as trial starts.” Manchester Guardian Weekly. 18 Mar. 2005.; Giroud, Emmanuel. “Europe of peoples, not Europe of states, EU minorities demand.” Agence France Presse. 8 Aug. 2004.)
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| 2004 |
14 members of the Clandestini Corsi organization were arrested by police this year. (“France: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004” United States Department of State. 28 Feb. 2005. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41681.htm [accessed 02/23/07])
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| 2004 |
Four Corsican youths were arrested for throwing acid into a hostel for immigrants. (“France Report 2005.” Amnesty International. Events in 2004. http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/fra-summary-eng [accessed 02/23/07]).
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| 2004 |
I Clandestini corsi have claimed responsibility in 7 attacks targeting North Africans this year. They also issued a statement threatening to “eliminate” North Africans in Corsica. (“Violence against North Africans in Corsica worries authorities.” Agence France Presse. 26 July 2004.)
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| Aug 7 - 8, 2004 |
A meeting in Corsica was held by the people of Corsica, Catalonia, Scotland, the Basque, as well as some others. They denounced the proposed European Union constitution for not accounting for the people who identify with a nation within a member state. (Giroud, Emmanuel. “Europe of Peoples, Not Europe of States, EU Minorities Demand.” Financial Times Information 8 Aug. 2004.) |
| Aug 27 - 27, 2004 |
Corsicans fired upon an Imam as he answered a knock on the door to the Muslim Cultural Association of Sartène. The Imam was not injured in the attack. (“France: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004” United States Department of State. 28 Feb. 2005. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41681.htm [accessed 02/23/07])
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| Sep 5 - 19, 2004 |
After a two week strike to demand increased managerial power, the Corsican workers' Union of the SNCM, a government-owned Ferry operator from Marseille to Corsica, receives new guaranteed positions and increased bonuses for Corsicans. (“French Ferry Strike Deal Victory for Corsican Nationalists - Radio Analysis.” BBC Monitoring International Reports. 19 Sep. 2004.; Spurrier, Andrew. “SNCM faces fresh strike action as key unions reject enforced state settlement: Ferries face further disruption over 'discrimination' in favour of Corsicans.”)
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| Oct 12 - 12, 2004 |
Corsican Nationalists were thought to be behind the bombing of a police station in Ventiseri. Vehicles and the building were damaged, but no injuries were reported as the attack happened after midnight. (“Bombing damages police station on Corsica.” Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 12 Oct. 2004.)
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| Oct 12 - 12, 2004 |
Corsican nationalists are suspected in the bombing of a school inspectorate, which left three people injured. (“Bombing damages police station on Corsica.” Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 12 Oct. 2004.)
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| Nov 14 - 14, 2004 |
Army of the Corsican People (Armata di u Populu Corsu) claimed responsibility for the bombing of Bordeaux’s Town Hall. (“Corsican separatists claim responsibility for Bordeaux town hall bombing.” Agence France Presse. 14 Nov. 2004.)
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| Nov 14 - 20, 2004 |
Molotov cocktails were thrown and gunshots fired at the home of a Tunisian family living in Corsica. A woman and her children were inside, but Amnesty International did not indicate if they had died as a result of the attack. (“Corsica (France): Perpetrators of new wave of racist violence must be brought promptly to justice.” Amnesty International Press Release. No. 305. 29 Nov. 2004. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR210012004?open&of=ENG-FRA [accessed 02/23/07])
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| Nov 26 - 26, 2004 |
Eight young Corsicans were being held pending results of a criminal investigation into their membership in the Clandestini Corsi. (“Judge to question youths suspected of anti-Arab attacks in Corsica.” Agence France Presse. 26 Nov. 2004.)
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| Nov 27 - 27, 2004 |
In November, on the Corsican island, an Imam was answering a knock on the door when unknown assailants fired upon his front door. The Imam escaped uninjured. (ONASA News Agency. 11/27/2004. "Racist Murder Attempt against Islamic Cleric on French Island.") |
| Mar 3 - 3, 2005 |
Corsican separatists are thought to be behind an attack in which an anti-tank rocket was launched at and became stuck in the wall of the police barracks. The attack resulted in no casualties. (“Suspected Corsican separatists fire anti-tank rocket at police barracks.” Agence France Presse. 4 Mar. 2005.)
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| Mar 11 - 11, 2005 |
On the eve of Charles Pieri's trial, an administrative building was bombed at around midnight leading to the injury of several people. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, although it was noted that the FNLC-UC recently had called off its ceasefire. (“Two children hurt in Corsica bomb blast.” Agence France Presse. 11 Mar. 2005.)
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| Mar 18 - 18, 2005 |
Charles Pieri, commander of the Front de Libération Nationale de la Corse- Union des combattants (FLNC-UC), a Corsican separatist organization, goes on trial for charges of extortion, misappropriation of funds and the funding of terrorist activities.(Henley, Jon. “Bomb in Corsica as trial starts.” Manchester Guardian Weekly. 18 Mar. 2005.)
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| Apr 30 - 30, 2005 |
Corsican Nationalists held a demonstration to protest the detainment of independence activists. 1,000 to 5,000 people were involved in the demonstration, which was broken up by police using tear gas after activists threw stones, bottles and smoke bombs at them. (“Police fire teargas at Corsican demo.” Agence France Presse. 30 Apr. 2005. ) |
| Apr 30 - 30, 2005 |
The Agricultural and Forestry Department building was bombed as a symbol of French authority in Corsica. Corsican Nationalists were thought to be responsible. (“Police fire teargas at Corsican demo.” Agence France Presse. 30 Apr. 2005.)
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| May 23 - 23, 2005 |
Two town halls were bombed early Monday morning. They were badly damaged, but no injuries were reported. The splinter group of the FNLC-UC, which calls itself October 22 FLNC is thought to be responsible for the attack as it had issued a statement warning of a spectacular action in response to a conviction of Pieri, just hours before his sentencing. (“Two town halls in Corsica bombed, damaged.” Agence France Presse. 23 May 2005.)
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| Jul 6 - 7, 2005 |
Unione Nazionale, a Corsican organization, organized a two day rally of 500 supporters for Corsican independence. (Bryant, Elizabeth. “Summer of Corsican discontent.” UPI. 15 Aug. 2005.)
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| Sep 26 - Oct 13, 2005 |
The Corsican workers Union STC for the SNCM state-owned ferry line went on strike to protest the government's proposal to privatize the company. Rallies and clashes between activists and police broke out in Corsica during the strikes. The strike ends after more than three weeks. (“Workers unite in SNCM strike.” Lloyd's List. 26 Sep. 2005; “Corsican ferry workers agree to return to jobs, ending more than three-week strike.” The Associated Press. 13 Oct. 2005.) |
| Sep 28 - 28, 2005 |
French commandos raided the ferry that had been hijacked by the Corsican STC union in response to government plans to privatize the state-owned SNCM ferry company. The hijackers were unarmed and there were no deaths or injuries reported. Four were arrested in the hijacking, but were later released. (“French commandos storm ship seized by striking workers in Mediterranean.” The Associated Press. 28 Sep. 2005.)
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| Sep 29 - 29, 2005 |
Corsicans protesting the arrest of sailors who had hijacked an SNCM ferry broke into the Regional Assembly, which was debating their release, using wire cutters. (“Nationalists break into Assembly as tensions high over ferry sell-off.” Agence France Presse. 29 Sep. 2005.)
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| Sep 30 - 30, 2005 |
A rocket was launched at the prefecture building in Corsica No responsibility was claimed and no one was injured in the attack, but Corsican separatists are expected to have been the perpetrators. (“Rocket attack in Corsica linked to major union unrest.” Agence France Presse. 30 Sep. 2005.)
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| Oct 1 - 1, 2005 |
A bomb went off ripping a hole in the side of a French customs boat that was empty and docked. There were unconfirmed reports that Corsican separatists were involved. (“Corsica bomb blasts French customs boat.” Agence France Presse. 1 Oct. 2005.)
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| Oct 1 - 1, 2005 |
During the STC ferry strike, Corsican protesters beat a policeman who escaped by jumping into the sea. The policeman later died of head injuries obtained in the beating. (“Tensions high on Corsica after more violence over ferry sell-off.” Agence France Presse. 2 Oct. 2005.)
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| Oct 1 - 1, 2005 |
Riot police and more than 100 troops broke up a strike blockading Corsican ports. The strikers were forcibly expelled from the port, but no injuries were reported. (“Police and army move in to free Corsica port from protesters.” Agence France Presse. 1 Oct. 2005.)
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| Jan 22 - 22, 2006 |
A Corsican separatist died while planting a bomb on the window sill of the Aix-en-Provence revenue office. Consequently, his friend, who also had links to the organization, was arrested in Southern France. (“Corsican held over bomb attack in southern France, one dead.” Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 22 Jan. 2006.)
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| Feb 9 - 9, 2006 |
Horace du Carbuccia, a Corsican editor of Gringoire, a French literary weekly, was involved in a duel with Henri Danjou, a Parisian journalist. Carbuccia fired into the air and the journalist aimed, but missed Carbuccia. The duel was over articles about Corsica that Danjou had written about Corsica. (“Duel in the Bois.” The International Herald Tribune. 9 Feb. 2006.)
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| Mar 4 - 4, 2006 |
The Corsican National Libertaion Front had the watchman of a holiday complex drive to Ajaccio and tell police that the resort had been booby trapped as the separatists bombed the empty resort. (“Separatists bomb holiday homes in Corsica.” Agence France Presse. 4 Mar. 2006.)
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| Mar 10 - 11, 2006 |
Robert Feliciaggi, a Corsican regional legislator since 2004, was shot multiple times in the head by unknown assailants outside of Corsica's main airport. He later died of his injuries. (“ROUNDUP: Corsican politician slain outside airport.” Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 11 Mar. 2006.) |
| Apr 20 - 20, 2006 |
Corsican nationalists (FLNC) attacked a stall that carried the Nice Matin newspaper in Bastia, Corsica, because it was advertising holiday homes to Germans and Brtions. (“Corsican nationalists attack German-owned holiday home.” Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 20 Apr. 2006.)
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| May 4 - 4, 2006 |
A car bomb exploded outside of a police station in Corsica. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspects are thought to have been involved. (“Car-bomb targets police station in Corsica; no casualties.” Agence France Presse. 4 May 2006.) |
| May 11 - 11, 2006 |
Corsican separatists detonated 10-15 bombs targeting public buildings, businesses and vacation homes in Corsica over night. (“Series of small explosions on Corsica.” Agence France Presse. 12 May 2006.)
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| May 11 - 11, 2006 |
Two Corsicans suspected of using violence to fight for independence were arrested and put under criminal investigation in Bastia, Corsica. (“Two suspected Corsican separatists put under criminal probe.” Agence France Presse. 11 May 2006.)
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| Jul 1 - 1, 2006 |
Corsican separatists from the FLNC took the cell phone of the watchman of a holiday complex and told him to go warn the police while they planted explosives. The building was empty at the time of the explosion. (“Separatists bomb holiday complex in Corsica.” Agence France Presse. 1 July 2006.)
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| Aug 5 - 5, 2006 |
Four government buildings were bombed as people gathered to celebrate Corsican nationalism. While there was significant damage caused by the explosions, no casualties were reported. (“Explosions hit Corsica as separatists gather for festivities.” Agence France Presse. 5 Aug. 2006.)
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| Aug 5 - 5, 2006 |
Hundreds of people supporting Corsican nationalism attended an annual gathering. ("Explosions hit Corsica as separatists gather for festivities.” Agence France Presse. 5 Aug. 2006.)
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| Aug 28 - 28, 2006 |
FLNC claimed an attack on a holiday villa by spray painting its initials on the building after having bombed it. There was no indication of any casualties. (Chrisafis, Angelique. “Island attacks: Corsican separatists' violent protest at rising house prices: Welcome to your new holiday home. Please beware of the danger of bombs.” The Guardian (London). 28 Aug. 2006.)
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