1999 Tashkent bombings
Encyclopedia
The 1999 Tashkent bombings occurred on 16 February when six explosives exploded in Tashkent
, the capital of Uzbekistan
. The bombs exploded over the course of an hour and a half, and targeted multiple government buildings. Though six explosives were detonated, it is believed that five were a distraction from the sixth, which was intended to assassinate President Islam Karimov, but failed. 16 were killed, and over 120 injured.
Although the government blamed Islamic rebels - the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
(IMU) - critics have cast doubt on this assessment.
Because of the tight media control in the country, the sequence of events of the attacks is not totally clear.
In January 2000, on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan
, the government announced the execution of several of the alleged participants in the attacks.
The Uzbek government also accused Tajikistan
of being complicit in the attacks, and temporarily closed its border with the country in response.
(IMU), an Islamist terrorist organization, for the attacks, critics have doubted this. Some have cast blame on Russia
, although others have called this unlikely. Another possibility is that forces in the Tajikistan
government were retaliating for Uzbek support for Tajik opposition groups. Tajik terrorist groups have been suggested as well, especially the United Tajik Opposition
(UTO).
Others have even suggested that the government itself was responsible, or that completing "clans," whose share of power in the government had recently been cut, were behind the attacks.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
, the capital of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. The bombs exploded over the course of an hour and a half, and targeted multiple government buildings. Though six explosives were detonated, it is believed that five were a distraction from the sixth, which was intended to assassinate President Islam Karimov, but failed. 16 were killed, and over 120 injured.
Although the government blamed Islamic rebels - the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a militant Islamist group formed in 1991 by the Islamic ideologue Tahir Yuldashev, and former Soviet paratrooper Juma Namangani—both ethnic Uzbeks from the Fergana Valley...
(IMU) - critics have cast doubt on this assessment.
Because of the tight media control in the country, the sequence of events of the attacks is not totally clear.
The attacks
According to the official version of the attacks, four to five men drove a car full of explosives up to the main entrance to the Cabinet of Ministers building a few minutes before Karimov was due to speak there. The attackers left the scene. A separate car explosion and gunfight occurred a few hundred meters away, distracting the guards. The attackers fled the scene, and some likely left Uzbekistan.Government response
Two hours after the explosion, President Karimov and the heads of the Uzbek security forces declared that Islamic militants were responsible. Many individuals were arrested, with estimates ranging from the hundreds to up to 5000. Human rights groups have criticized the detentions as illegitimate. They have also accused the government of planting evidence and getting confessions through torture.In January 2000, on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, the government announced the execution of several of the alleged participants in the attacks.
The Uzbek government also accused Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
of being complicit in the attacks, and temporarily closed its border with the country in response.
Possible perpetrators
Although the government has blamed the Islamic Movement of UzbekistanIslamic Movement of Uzbekistan
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a militant Islamist group formed in 1991 by the Islamic ideologue Tahir Yuldashev, and former Soviet paratrooper Juma Namangani—both ethnic Uzbeks from the Fergana Valley...
(IMU), an Islamist terrorist organization, for the attacks, critics have doubted this. Some have cast blame on Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, although others have called this unlikely. Another possibility is that forces in the Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
government were retaliating for Uzbek support for Tajik opposition groups. Tajik terrorist groups have been suggested as well, especially the United Tajik Opposition
United Tajik Opposition
The United Tajik Opposition was an alliance of democratic, liberal and Islamist forces that fought in the Tajik Civil War from 1992 to 1997 against administration of President Emomali Rahmonov....
(UTO).
Others have even suggested that the government itself was responsible, or that completing "clans," whose share of power in the government had recently been cut, were behind the attacks.