the sophisticated TGV high-speed train service between Marseille and Paris. At 7.34pm on December 31 1983, as the Paris-bound express approached a small town in the Rhone valley, a bomb exploded in one of the carriages tearing large holes in the roof and walls. Although the train was nearly empty, two passengers died instantly and dozens more were injured. Forty minutes later, another bomb ripped through another TGV, which was stopped at Saint Charles station in Marseille. The blast, which was centred in a luggage compartment, killed two passengers who were standing on the platform and injured another thirty-four. Within days of the bombings, Carlos sent letters to three separate news agencies claiming responsibility for the bombings as revenge for a French air strike against a terrorist training camp in Lebanon the previous month. A day later another bomb destroyed the French Cultural Centre in Tripoli. Although he didn't claim responsibility at the time, the attack was also credited to Carlos. The latest round of attacks caused great concern for the Stasi as one of the letters claiming responsibility for the train bombings had been posted from within East Berlin and they feared that the west would blame them for harbouring Carlos. Some months later, during renewed trade talks between the U.S. State Department and Eastern European states, the subject of protection of terrorists came up. Following the talks, many of the Eastern European states distanced themselves from Carlos and banned him from entering their territories. East Germany was the first country to impose the ban followed by Romania and Czechoslovakia. Finding the doors of Europe closing against him, Carlos returned to Aden to take part in a meeting of Palestinian extremists but quickly realised that he was no longer aligned with their cause. With his support network crumbling around him, the "Jackal" was in dire need of a safe lair.In the early hours of May 4, ...
