1974 anti-American riots in Cyprus

Part of the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Location| Nicosia, Cyprus
Date| August 19, 1974

Attack type

| Rioting and shootings
Deaths| 2
Injured| Unknown

The 1974 anti-American riots in Cyprus were violent anti-American rioting that took place in front of the United States embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus on August 19, 1974.[1] The events took place days after the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which resulted in Turkey controlling 36.5% of the island. The gunmen murdered the US ambassador in the American embassy in Cyprus.[2]

Hundreds of Greek-Cypriots who were frustrated at the failure of the United States to quell the Turkish forces and its alleged support for Turkey started to protest and riot.[3]

During the riots US Marines from the Marine Security Guard fired teargas and allegedly warning shots at the protestors, the Cypriot National Guard General Staff tried to get a platoon from 35th Raider Squadron to assist, however, the commander, Giorgos Papameletiou refused, stating that it was not the special forces job to protect the embassy rather the military police.[4][5]

The American ambassador to Cyprus, Rodger Davies, who was seeking shelter inside the embassy, was shot and killed by sharpshooters belonging to EOKA-B, a Greek-Cypriot nationalist paramilitary.[6] from about 91 metres (100 yd) away.[7] An embassy employee, Antoinette Varnava, who rushed to his aid, was also killed by a sniper bullet.[8]

In February 1977, the Cypriot government decided to arrest six EOKA-B members and try them for the assassination of ambassador Davies however never being convicted.[9]

## References

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1. ^ "Cyprus — August 1974: "It was a blind shot that got the Ambassador" – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training". adst.org. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
2. ^ Carbone, Nick (2012-09-12). "Rodger P. Davies, Cyprus, 1974". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
3. ^ Carbone, Nick (2012-09-12). "Rodger P. Davies, Cyprus, 1974". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
4. ^ "US ambassador's murder in Cyprus still unresolved". knews.kathimerini.com.cy. 19 August 2022.
5. ^ "Cyprus — August 1974: "It was a blind shot that got the Ambassador" – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training". adst.org. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
6. ^ Sloan, Stephen; Anderson, Sean K. (2001-09-11). Historical Dictionary of Terrorism - Stephen Sloan, Sean K. Anderson - Google Books. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810863118. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
7. ^ Harveston, Kate (2012-08-21). "Remembering Ambassador Rodger Davies". Intpolicydigest.org. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
8. ^ "Cyprus - August 1974: "It was a blind shot that got the Ambassador" - Association for Diplomatic Studies and TrainingAssociation for Diplomatic Studies and Training". Adst.org. 1974-08-19. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
9. ^ Fitchett, Joseph (1977-02-04). "Cyprus to Arrest, Try 6 Rightists In '74 Death of U.S. Ambassador". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-07-14.