The Associated Press looks back on the foiled attempt to assassinate Golda Meir during a 1973 visit to New York — and gives credit for stopping it:
It was the National Security Agency that uncovered a 1973 plot to bomb New York City, a scheme since linked to a terrorist who is nearing release from prison, according to government documents and interviews.
Khalid Al-Jawary, a Black September terrorist, placed two car bombs along Fifth Avenue and one near Kennedy Airport. The attack was meant to coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir’s arrival in the city. The bombs failed to detonate, and Al-Jawary quickly fled the country before being arrested nearly 20 years later.
The case has gained increased attention since an Associated Press investigation provided new details about Al-Jawary’s shadowy background. He’s scheduled to be released February 19 after serving only about half his 30-year prison sentence. But until now, it has been unclear how the authorities knew where to look for the cars. Shortly after Al-Jawary planted the bombs around March 4, the NSA intercepted a message revealing the location of them.
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