An international terrorist group formed in 1970 after breaking away from Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. Now led by Fusako Shiboto, believed to be in the Syrian-garrisoned area of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Their stated goals are to overthrow the Japanese Government and monarchy and to help foment world revolution.
Before 1977, RSB carried out a series of brutal attacks over a wide geographical area, including the massacre of passengers at airports in Israel and Greece and two Japanese airliner hijackings. Anti-U.S. attacks include the attempted takeover of U.S. Embassy in Spain. Since the mid-1980's has carried out several crude rocket and mortal attacks against a number of U.S. embassies. In April 1990, RSB operatives were arrested with explosives on the New Jersey Turnpike. The attack was apparently intended to coincide with the bombing out a USO club in Germany, a suspected RSB operation that killed five, including a U.S. servicewoman. Shiboto was arrested for this crime in May in the U.S. and is awaiting trial.
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