When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s (437)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 3 January 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with intricately planned plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them was the young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking Carlos the Jackal in shades and designer suits, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. United by their hatred of Israel, capitalism and ‘Western imperialism’, they unleashed a series of audacious attacks that brought governments to their knees and glued the world to their televisions in morbid fascination. Drawing on decades of research, recently declassified government files, secret documents, and original interviews with hijackers, spies, witnesses and victims, I speak with Jason Burke, the author of “The Revolutionists - The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s” takes us into the lives and minds of the perpetrators of these often-deadly operations. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781847926067 Related episodes: Watching the Jackals: Prague’s Covert Liaisons with Cold War Terrorists and Revolutionaries https://coldwarconversations.com/episode382/ Terrorism in the Cold War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode205/ Episode extras ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode437⁠ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to ⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/⁠⁠ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/store/⁠⁠ CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION Follow us on BlueSky ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ Follow us on Threads ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations⁠ Follow us on Twitter ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/⁠ Youtube ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
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0:33.1	i do speak to people from the red army faction i spent a long time talking to Leila Khalid,
0:39.8	who was involved in some of the very early Palestinian hijackings and went on to become a bit of an icon.
0:45.0	Carlos is really interesting. I actually ended up having a weird correspondence with him in prison.
0:52.8	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:56.5	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to Cold War history.
1:00.8	Please make sure you follow us in your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes.
1:05.5	In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorise the West with intricately planned plane hijackings and
1:12.6	hostage taking. Among them was the young Leila Khaled, with her jewellery made from grenade
1:18.5	rings, the hard drinking Carlos the Jackal in shades and designer suits and the radical
1:24.0	leftists of the Bada Meinhof gang. I speak with Jason Burke, the author of The Revolutionists,
1:30.4	the story of the extremists who hijacked the 1970s.
1:34.4	He takes us into the lives and minds of the perpetrators of these often deadly operations.
1:40.3	I'm delighted to welcome Jason Burke to our Cold War conversation.
1:45.7	What originally drew you to this subject?
1:49.9	There are many things actually.
	...

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