Tracking the Bombings: Primary Sources & Geolocation

A picture, assumed to be in NYC or Chicago, of law enforcement officers geared in EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) equipment disposing of a possible bomb planted by the FALN. FALN devices were found before detonation, while other times the guerrillas would call in and make fake bomb threats in an effort to instill fear and confusion.

An ArcGIS map showing a sample of fifteen bombs detonated from 1974 to 1976 in New York City, predominantly central and southern Manhattan, northern Brooklyn, and southern Bronx. Many bombs were detonated outside of large Puerto Rican or Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. This suggests, and understandably so, that FALN guerrillas did not want to bring the war close to their backyards. However, of note, many of the bombings did not occur far from emergency services, with a few occurring at police stations in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Written and later released to the public, this FBI list of FALN bombings tracks every bomb or bomb threat committed by the group from 1974 to 1982.

Communique No. 3 shows the FALN claiming responsibility for their deadliest bombing, the bombing at the Fraunces Tavern in southern Manhattan. The bombing claimed the lives of four people and injured dozens more. Overall, however, the number of casualties sustained at the Fraunces Tavern bombing were more an anamoly as opposed to the norm.

Picture of the FALN Fraunces Tavern Bombing

A picture of the Fraunces Tavern bombing after the arrival of law enforcement and emergency services.

This communique claims responsibility for an attack on the Anglers Club and other non-specific locations in NYC. Communique No. 4 is a prime example of a trend in some of the FALN communiques, that being ambiguity in location that can make geolocation difficult.

Communique No. 5 is an excellent example of the FALN standing in solidarity with other movements of its time, such as the anti-war movement against the conflict in Vietnam and pardons for key revolutionary leaders imprisoned by the United States. Furthermore, No. 5 mentions a series of attacks occuring in unison with the Puerto Rican Day Parade, showing the FALN's efforts at attracting support from fellow Puerto Ricans in the New York area.

Communique No. 2 shows the 'back-and-forth' between New York law enforcement and the FALN, namely the FALN's accustations of police brutality by the NYPD. In following years, documents were released showing that law enforcement agencies like the FBI targeted the FALN through programs like COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence) in an effort to tarnish and destroy the organization.

Maps and Communiques

Although most FALN communiques generally describe the location and reasons for a specific bombing, the FBI closely monitored each bomb or bomb threat and created an extensive list of every bombing perpetrated by the group since 1974 to 1982. Using this data, I created a map on ESRI's ArcGIS map program. The map shows bomb sites and their respective buffers, measured to a one mile radius, to demonstrate relative proximity to emergency services and predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. What can be concluded from this are the following points:

The FALN did not consider proximity to emergency services as important. In fact, one bombing took place at a police precinct in South Bronx.
Most bombings occurred in Central and Southern Manhattan, at least one mile away from most predominant Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. This suggest a conscious choice to keep revolutionary violence away from these neighborhoods.
Most bomb targets were places of business or institutions linked to capitalist enterprise or the government, including insurance buildings, federal offices, banks, or high-end bars. Furthermore, most bombings were non-lethal, with some exceptions. Instead, incurring high property damages may have been the primary objective along with making a political statement.

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