1968 Mexico City Terrorist Attacks

The 1968 Mexico City Terrorist Attacks, orchestrated by the Moonlight Commandos through their proxy group "Children of God", were a meticulously planned act of political terror that unfolded between October 22nd and 25th, 1968, shattering any remaining illusions of peace during the Olympic Games. The attacks, designed for maximum psychological impact, targeted symbols of Mexican national pride and global unity: the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo), the Televisa broadcasting station, and the Olympic Village. The violence, which was broadcast live to millions worldwide, saw suicide bombers, gunmen, and saboteurs unleash coordinated chaos, leaving hundreds dead and sending shockwaves across the globe. With Mexico still reeling from the Tlatelolco Massacre just weeks prior, the attacks capitalised on deepening instability, exploiting both government repression and public outrage to sow terror. The brutality and media spectacle of the attacks marked a new era of international terrorism, forcing world powers to reevaluate their approach to counterterrorism and internal security, thus being the direct cause of the International War on Terror.