The Assault
Emma?
We're hiding in here daddy
Emma?
Where are they?
Is anyone home?
Hello, is anyone home
How come no one home
We were hiding daddy
I saw you
Hello
Give daddy a kiss
- No. - What?
No
- and me? - Yes
None for you
I'm sleepy mummy
You're sleepy?
- Want to read a story? - Yes.
a story
Oh, no its broken
You fix it
Okay
Sox the fox is waiting for his mom
but Sox the fox doe not like to wait
Sox the fox throw some rock
His mom says to him
Oh you are wise
and then Sox the fox started to bark
You okay?
Bunny?
She's coming
Its getting late, time for nighty night
I want daddy to hug me in the living room
- Okay - The living room
Show daddy your eyes
Sweet heart let me see if they look tired
Come here show me your eyes. Let me see your eyes
I think there's a little kiss coming
No
It just a little kiss I don't want it
- Why? - Because I don't feel like it
You don't feel like a kiss? No kisses for you
Algiers, December 24 1994 Houari Boumediene Airport
View cloud at 1,800 feet
Over Cass at 2,500
Temperature at 37°
Dew Point at Zero
QNH 998 hectopascal
So there will be some turbulence when we arrive?
We'll ask
air traffic control to keep us high as long as possible
Very well
It's time to pray
Come on guys
(They said prayer)
- Allahuakbar - Allahuakbar
Allahuakbar
(Yahya said prayer)
Restricted area
- Excuse me. Yes - Do you mind if we switch seat?
I would to seat next to my parents
Yes of course, go ahead
Before we start going through the check-list
We'll do a brief view of the clearance point
Yes sir
Special presidential police
We're conducting a passport check
I-I will go with you
No. No we only need a few minutes
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
This is your Captain speaking
I like to ask for you please to be remain seated
Presidential policemen will now perform a passport check
Take out your passport!
Passports.
- You have the passport? - Yes
- Algiers, are you from Algiers? - Yes I am
You know I'm glad that you are so careful
- Passports. - Show me your passport
Hurry up
Hey, hold it
Hold it
- What's going on? - Sit down
- Could I help? - No thank you
Alright
Hands up, get back right now. Get back
We all ALLAH solders
We're hijacking this airplane in the name of ALLAH
We are HIS soldiers, cover your hair
Cover you hair
Sit down
We are the GIA, I order you to stay put
- Understood - Cover yourself
Cover yourself
- We will die for ALLAH - This is bad
Take off immediately
I can't the boarding steps are still attach to the plane
Then call and tell them to remove the steps
Allahuakbar
Cover your hair
Hello we are the GIA
We in control of this plane now
remove the boarding steps at once, understood?
Remove the boarding steps!
No I don't know we just heard about..
200 passengers, 4 horrified hijackers, 4 men for sure
- A woman maybe with them - Who told you?
We Imbaladers team share information,
but you wouldn't understand that Carole
Go to hell
Transfer all the important call directly to the crisis unit
Thats been done, blinds 4 is all yours
I want to be first one to know anything, got it?
Now this hijacking got the GIA written all over it
The question is, what is their objective
Our agents will attempt to make
contact with their leader Djamel Zitouni
The GIA works in an independent cell,
months can go by before the cell leader contact Zitoyni
Zitoyni may not be aware of this
that may be so Carole but I want put a face on all this
so we can negotiate with someone
for now the Algerians government is
rejecting the idea that the French intervention on their soil
Leroy investigate all the way we can get around them
We bring back the airplane to France without losing any lives
The moment it enters our airspace the hijacking become a French issue
This may be very well end in a blood bath
I don't want a single drop landing on my scene
Leroy
Warn the GIGN
Go
An Air France plane was being hijacked in Algiers
we have orders to do an intervention drills, they're waiting for me
Ok gentlemen get ready
How about the work force?
full deployment is in affect, all
men with enough 300 miles radius is on their way to the barracks
call those on leave who haven't left yet
Roger that sir
No, not this time
I need your help here in the office and with the families
- Yes commander - Thank you
Shit
- Can we give this away? - No, of course not
Before we leave you, we have breaking news form Algeria
and from France as well, just moments ago, Air France
issue a press release
one of their airplane which was headed for Paris
has been stop at the Algiers airport
The aircraft is currently surrounded by armed men
Mummy
- We will bring you - Coming
more of the story at 8 o'clock this evening
Thats the end of today program,
thank you for joining us and we hope you have a great afternoon
We need to load those one first. Come on
I repeat remove the boarding steps immediately
Remove the steps now!
Take the step away
Let the children and the elderly
go and we will remove the boarding step
Josef, come out here
I would be happy to let the children go they just a nuisance
We just end up wasting precious time getting them to shut up
That's a good point
- Bring the cop over here - Alright
Move it, go
Listen closely, we're sending you with a message for the government
tell them we demanding Abassi Madanii and Ali Benhadjar be set free at once,
is that clear?
now get out
Carole Jeanton, they're waiting for you
President and prime minister will be listening in
The hijacker just kill a hostage, an Algerian policeman
In Algiers, The President is withholding information from us
He refuses to considers GIGN involvement
It's all happening on their soil
true, but the plane is legal in embassy
How would France look in the international community
if we don't intervene
we have to show our fangs dammit
We have no choice
As you can see in this live footage
the hijacker has began freeing women and children
Are they letting everyone go?
No, just the women and children
The freed passengers appear to be in harm
So how does it go with Favier?
oh he left me
Sir, how long do your first mission last again?
17 hours behind a rifle
It was cold, thats insane
- We waited 10 hours - 10 hours? Wow
Be right back
I know, I have no business being here right now
it's ridiculous
I can't do it
I feel like I'm going crazy
It's on every channel on TV
I don't want you to go
I don't
We pick them up and bring them back nothing more
That's it We pick them up and bring them back nothing more
That's it
I know
So?
- See you tonight - Tonight?
Come on sweety
Bye bye daddy
We're not scared of you
You huskies
Traitors
You don't move, you stay here
- Sit down - Traitors
We need your cooperation, tell us your demand
Don't let me down, I want a picture, a name,
something concrete and I want it quickly, you have my fax number?
Yes
- Call me back - Alright
The Spanish are authorizing us to take position in Majorca
An identical airbus A300 will be waiting for us in Rozyre
Get everyone on board and get over there
Roland, bring the late comers with you, meet in in Majorca with a trans off
Commander
Algerian national
- We have to get it off the ground - Yes, we all agree on that
very well
The hijackers are puppets, the master mind of the operation is Ali Touchent
better known to our people as Tariq
Operation Cresateno
He's one of the big fish at FIS that we're after
He's the only one that got away
We were told he was hiding out in a safe in Sonacotra
But when we search it, he already vanished
This guy a commander, he rumored to be a double or triple agent
- Agent for whom? - Algeria, Russia and probably us
- What exactly do you have in mind? - Buying peace
The GIA had three years of civil war
The organization has no money left
We should avoid a confrontation, we have to talk to their wallets
Do you realize, if we fail, we'll be financing terrorism?
Are you going to remove the boarding step?
Will you remove them or not?
You have to ask them, go on
Algiers runway, this is Air France 8969
Could you please remove the boarding step?
Algiers runway, this is Air France 8969,
this is the captain speaking, do you copy?
Makrouf
Get the Vietnamese man
Lets go
Move, lets go
Look at you, aren't you ashamed, huh?
Lets go, move it, move it
This miscreant is near ALLAH
Carol, come to the crisis unit
We want you to explain your idea
Its all goes back with this man Ali Touchent
38 years old from Algeria upper class
He studied history at Sorbonne and then work at the GIA
His biggest enemy Algiers, not Paris. That much is certain
-So? -That mean that we will talk to us
We can negotiate with him, the security general gave me a contact
He knows where Touchent is
We just have to give him some incentive
How much will it cost?
Miss, all of my brothers are married
Yahya has a son, Mustafa has 3 sons
even Salim
I'm the only single one
thats not good
You're not wearing a ring
Makrouf
I'm listening
My name is Carol Jeanton, I work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
I'm speaking on it's behalf
Can I ask with whom I'm speaking?
Are you Ali Touchent?
I'll pass on the information you gave me to him
very well my superiors wish to negotiate to him
I just need a direct line with him
I'll call this number in an hour
Prepare to take the highway 84 to a Marne-la-Vallee
Ali Touchent is in France?
Jocque you go with her and take over
Carol you observe
If this thing go wrong its on you
[Praying]
Sunday at 8.50 pm. on France 3
Good evening
The two death has been officially confirm by Algerian authorities
the hostage taken of passenger on
Air France flight 8969 form Algiers to Paris
is unfolding in a tragic way, the aircraft still stop at the Algiers
airport been in a hands of 4 armed men since this morning
A total of 57 people has been released
The fact and the first footage by Zinaddine Budauth
Air France A300 air bus has been immobilized
for almost 12 hours on the runway at the Algiers airport
All the lights have been turned off and the doors are closed
Sunday, December 25, 1994 Palma de Majorque Airport
Hurry tidy yourself up a little Wait there for mummy, hang on
Is that daddy?
Daddy
Wait here in the car, you don't have any business here
I can't guarantee your safety
What did we do?
Do what they said, do not exceed 30 miles per hour
What?
at the next junction, follow sign to the industrial areas
Don't move I said
Don't move, who's talking?
Who's talking? Answer!
I am
Come on, move it
You can take it off
If you wanted to see me, it means you have an offer
I'm listening
700,000 francs, it yours
For your Organization or for you personally
Once you decided to take this money,
we have no control over its destination
- You want what from me? - Tell them to stop everything at once
Is that all?
I must be too idealistic
I believe that you would promise to force my
government to free my incarcerated brothers
but instead, you come to me with small change
I could slit your throat for that
You don't know who you're dealing with.
You dealing with people who are determined
and who will never retreat
Even if this war would last a 1000 years, we will fight,
our son will take our place and their son after them
We will hit you where we like and when we like
I don't accept it, but I'll keep it
- We part ways here - Why are you in Paris sir?
You don't ever quit do you?
The Plane will be in Paris soon They will be a press conference
- We have things to say - But you don't honor the Koran sir
You're saying our battle is a lie? The god are watching you
They're writing down your every action
They know what you do
The righteous shall has his reward with god
but the corrupt shall receive God wrath with their sins
They shall burn in hell on the day of retribution
Police!
Hand over your head
Police no body move
Police!
no body moves
Hand over your head
We said hand over your head
Police
don't move
You been hit
If you have any doubt about a man hands,
go over a lift him to check or a woman
[Saying Prayer]
Allahuakbar
- Its a suicide mission - Meaning what?
This hijacking is unlike anything we seen
I believe their aim is to crush the plane in Paris
Can you prove the claim you're making?
Touchent is in Paris but he never intended to negotiate
He only wanted a front row seat
I think that they, that they are targeting
a symbolic place or building
We cannot act on you intuition alone
All I know for certain in this whole
affair is that spend the special funds,
- Lets resume - Alright
Can the French guy drive the step?
I can bring him over here and we can ask him
Should I do that? Hang on
- Can you drive? - Yes
Open the door
- What your name? - Yannick Beunier
Alright Yannick you should not be scared,
you would go down, and take the boarding step away
- I do not know if I.. - You'll be free afterward. Go!
Release the hostages, we can talk
I repeat, release the hostages, we can talk,
release the hostages,
we can talk
What's wrong?
There are jacked-set into the ground. I can't take them out
We need your cooperation Tell us your demand
- My brother - What is it?
Maybe I can help you
Come here
- Peace be upon you - and upon you
I know how to remove the steps
I done it before, I work at this airport
I can take it away for you
You work where?
Customs
Customs?
Your wallet
- Saada Melki? - Yes, thats me
What is this?
That's my saving, everything
- My entire life saving - I hold on to it for now
You go
What's he doing?
Shoot him! Shoot!
Run! Run!
Give me the gun. Give the gun
Mustafa
Enemy of ALLAH
We are ALLAH soldiers
Allahuakbar
You're all traitors greedy for money
That's all you want. ALLAH enemies
Money, that's all you were interested in
Please stop!
You get up
What's going on Yahya huh? What's going on?
No body moves
Stay where you are
No body moves
Go on talk
Go on
My name is Yannick Beunier
I work at the French Embassy
our lives are in danger now
If you don’t do anything, they will execute us
You have to do something
I swear to you I will put a bullet his head and throw him to you
Don't you see we're are not afraid of you?
You're dealing with the men with men who has great faith.
Men who will never retreat
if this battle goes on for one year, and we will fight for one year
We are not afraid because we are ALLAH soldiers
ALLAH entrusts us with this holy mission
We will hit whatever we want to hit, whenever we want, is that clear?
So big guy, do you have anything to say to me?
Yahya
Go ahead
You can stop everything
Its not too late to stop Yahya
Please my boy
I love you mother
but I love ALLAH more than you
We will each other again in paradise
Have you thought about your boy? and what about me?
you can't leave me like this, don't do this
Please don't do this Yahya, Yahya
Yahya please listen to me, I have a massage from the Algerian government.
Your life will be spared if you release the hostages
Do you think I'm a fool or what? You have until 9.30 pm to get
this plane in the air. Do you understand?
Then I'll have a surprise install for you. We will blow up this plane
and everyone in it and there is nothing you can do about it
I am running out of patient
Open the door
Please, Don't do it
This miscreant is near ALLAH
Madam please get back into the car right now
Sit down
We are ALLAH soldiers
Allahuakbar
We are ALLAH soldiers
Don't treat me like a fool, listen closely
A French national is just executed
If the plane doesn’t take of, we'll contact the UN security Council
Is that clear? Go tell your president that
Earlier this afternoon, Prime Minister Édouard Balladur returned to Paris,
he went to a Hotel where he met with his ministers
France authority said, they will protect the passengers first
The government plan of action has been clearly defined
to do everything to ensure the safety of the hostages
especially the French hostages and The Air France personnel
The Islamic commando deliver a new ultimatum this evening
If by 9.30 pm the plane has not taken off
A Frenchman would be killed, the ultimatum expires and 8 minutes later
The commando carry out his threat.
The Frenchmen, Yannick Beunier from
the French Embassy in Algiers was then killed
As the result French and Algerian authorities gave their go ahead
and at 2 o'clock in the morning
Air Traffic controller tower calling Air France 8969, over
- Air France 8969 I'm listening, - You have authorization for take off
If we storm the plane, I'll go in first
We're not there yet.
First, we have to negotiate as much as possible
You're doing your job, your doing political reasoning
but those guys are warriors
Warriors don't engage in politics, and when they do they don't negotiate
They want two mujaheddin to be set free
Yeah
A hijacking for two known names
Why Paris?
This operation will be unfavorable
We didn't choose the field or the weapons,
There will be losses
and yet you still want to go in first,
What does that mean?
I'm listening
So, you know the situation, in order to have electricity on board,
we used the backup engine. 10 tonne of Kerosene remain
- not enough to get to Paris - What does that mean?
Either we wait of Algiers to fuel the plane or we
take off now go to Marseille, refuel and go to Paris
We'll go to Marseille
I'll tell them
at 1:45 am at Algiers airport
Three Mechanics went to the plane,
they remove the obstacles from the runway and take the step away
At 1.55 the plane began to shake 5 minutes later, it took off
The captain was in a hurry to leave
He told air traffic control at Algiers that...
It's just the first victory I spoke to the Prime Minister
I mentioned the possibility of a suicide
mission and he's extremely concern
The interior minister has taken over but he wants you on the case
Very well
Everyone two Mirage 2000 will escort the plane.
If it doesn't land in Marseille, it will be shot down
Arrival in the zone in 30 minutes
Marseille, Marignane Airport
- Hello - Hello
It will be here in an hour.
We're going to need the full cooperation of all your personnel so
We can set up our operation
We rerouted all the air traffic to other airport
Which landing strip is the farther-est from control tower?
Number 3, I think number 3
That's where it will land
We set up our PC ops in the nearest hangar
No problem, we organized all of that
Did you prepare all the material we requested?
We did, everything’s in the hangar. I'll take you there
Thanks
Ready?
Next step, set up the negotiation with the chief.
- Yes - Good
I'll get on your frequency
Everyone, this is Dennis.
Deployment of armed back up on the runway
The plane is approaching,
it just appeared over the mountain
It has begun landing
end of mission order
Everyone, the airbus is approaching
I'm coming
Welcome to France, we're happy to have you here
I do not want to talk to you.
We are going to Paris and you will us fuel. You have until 9.00 pm
9.00 pm, not 1 minute longer
I will do everything in my power, how much Kerosene do you need?
- 29 tonnes huh? - They only need 9 to get to Paris
They're making a flying bomb.
More Kerosene mean more fire. They want to crash into Paris
They want to be a symbol
They only introduce Mr Solignac,
- and you are? - Carole Jeanton from foreign affairs
I work for that Mr. Solignac
The Prime Minister sent us here tonight to
relay this information and make sure its taken into account
Then, that airplane will not leave Marseille
Didier to Dennis for the IDs
Two terrorist in the cockpit
Boss is the one in contact with tower
Warrior is the one carrying Kalashnikov AK-47
Two terrorists in the back, Curly is the one in the passenger isle
and little is the one that looks young
Do all the shooter copy the IDs?
Christian, Ok
- Didier, Ok - Geck, Ok
Neil, Ok
Paris, Monday December 26 1994
Hello
You want me to hold? Okay
Yes I can give it to you now, 30 passengers deaths 10 GIGN deaths
Ok, Bye
What was that?
An estimate of deaths in an event of an assault
from Marrianne
We got a problem, the fuel workers refuse to go near the plane
They're discussing it, its understandable
I don't care, if 9.05. Make a good gesture, free a hostage
The only reason I'm here is to get fuel
I told you, 9.00 pm it is 9.05, you want to know what I'm going to do?
I'm going to need more time,
I cannot give you what I don't have, I'm sorry
- How much time? - I don't know
an hour?
Fine, I want a press conference
- Dennis? - Yes
Ahh Shit
Mummy
Where are we going?
Come on honey, lets get out of here
Yes?
Hold the line, The interior
Yes? Yes sir
No, no I don't agree We're in negotiation,
we still have argument left sir
An assault would be premature sir
We all due respect, the GIGN will intervene when we decide its time
Major Favier? Yes, this is Carole Jeanton,
We met at the ministry before you left
Right
I understand you doubt about storming the plane
but I would like to suggest that we establish a plan of conduct
You will intervene in two cases, if the
hijacker is in danger passenger lives or if they try to take off
Fine by me
never do that again
The airplane is still the Marseille airport
where it was forced to land because their fuel reserve has run low
The hijackers make a new ultimatum,
demanding a refueling and a press conference
French police have taken position around
the aircraft and they are currently
- Well chief? - Clear out the first row Yahya
Make room for the journalist and cameras
We're ready, they can come
Yahya you know that the French government is waiting for a gesture
and its time to free hostages
I will let 2 hostages go, that is our final gesture
When they are on the ground, you have 20 minutes to bring the fuel
Otherwise we will kill everyone
It is 3.30 pm, 2 passengers, a man and a woman are seen
leaving the plane
She seem weak.
They are the first hostages to be freed since
the plane landed in France
Thank you
- That is valuable information for us - My daughter, Laila
She's in the plane Please, get her out
Please,
I made a gesture, now its your turn to show us if you're a man of your word
I am doing my best. The fuel worker still refuses to go out there
Leave the fuel truck 600 feet away from here
and then tell the driver to leave the keys and go away
- What do you say Chief? - I will see if that possible
Of course its possible, I said so
and I want a press conference
There's a problem Yahya, the truck are very big
You need a special permit to drive them, its dangerous
You're lying, you are making all of this up
You don't want to give us fuel,
you're liars and you are conspiring against us
Dennis, Yahya is very hostile I think we should move in
Come on
Hey that's my toy not yours, its mine. Give it back to me
No
Its ok, don't cry
Their last ultimatum is almost expired
They might take action now
They're heavily armed. We'll be fighting in a very small space
These guys are not average maniacs
There's to be absolutely no doubt, no question in your mind when
you go in that airplane
If a colleague is hurt, if a colleague hits the ground
even if he is your partner,
you keep going
Go
Everybody in position
The plane's moving
Lock the runway with the tank
Start the movement
Roget that sir
Give me the bolt cutters
Tank in position,
runway lock
In position support fire?
Support fire is in approach
The airplane has just stopped
Go to your gunner
Oh God, give your blessing to our dead, our presence and our absence,
our young and our old and our male and our female
Thats the death prayer
You have to act now
Dennis, what are you dong?
The shooters are taking positions
And action!
Shit, its starting
Didier, confirmation?
The two hijackers in the back is going to the front
Now!
Allahu Akbar
GIGN, nobody move
nobody move, stay seated
Hand over your head Show us your hand
Hand over your head
Shoot them
Allahu Akbar
Nobody moves
Your hand, don't move
Hands over your head
Nobody move
Don't move
Get on your feet. Up!
Strike the power resisting ALLAH and only ALLAH
Show me your hand
No body moves
Where?
Shoot over here. Over here!
Allahuakbar
Don't move
ALLAH is the one true god
Come on, lets go
Shoot them, keep shooting
Yes
Come on get up
get up
Come on, come on
Keep moving
Again!
You're all enemy of ALLAH
No don't shoot Go into the corner
Hide over there
Please do not panic, stay down
Stay down
Get up ma'am,
Come on
Move it
Come on people lets go
Get down
ALLAH is the one true god
Heads down
ALLAH is the on true god
You have to aim for the cockpit
Right window
Target, 3 seconds
Kill them
Yahya, die in your feet
Yahya
Evacuation complete
Move
Lets go to the front
Let's go
Grenade
I'm going in the plane, stay here
We go get him.. You and you
Grenade
There are Frenchmen in the cockpit,
all the terrorist are dead, stop shooting the cockpit.
They're still Frenchmen alive
We are French, what is going on? We are French!
Hands in the air
I want to see your hand
You, put your hands up
I will not raise my hand in my plane
Come on lets go, move
Look at me a Thierry, look at me
Follow the light
Get the vehicle folks
Come on
We need you in the field, get up
Get up please
Lets go. Move it
They were call on to speak to the hijackers
under the authority of interior minister, Charles Pasqua
and it became obvious to us all
that the only way for us to save human lives
was to storm the airplane
That is, the decision I made
I would like to emphasize the fact that the operation was carried out in
way that demonstrated exemplary courage and efficiency
I want to thanks all the special forces
Especially the GIGN
The hostage that were killed are in our thoughts
especially Yannick Beunier,
a young French civil servant who was killed yesterday
Dennis Favier mandate ended in 1997, he was called back
September 1st 2007 to head the new GIGN
He familiarize himself to the events at Margnane
and use them to bring the unit to the 21st century.
He was promoted to general on June 1st 2008
thus becoming a highest ranking person to command that unit
Give me that
Wake up
Good
Wake up, keep your eyes open
Sir,
Open your eyes, stay with us
- We're going home - To my house?
Yes
Come on Mummy
Zip up my coat
What?
Where is daddy?
Thierry survived his injuries, shot eight times.
He still has 2 bullets in his shoulder.
The republic of France never promoted him to Major
Following the GIGN assault, the 172 passengers
were evacuated unharmed.
9 members of the group were seriously injured
French intelligence concluded that the
objective of the 4 terrorists was to crash the plane into the Eiffel Tower
Six months later, the GIA hit Paris by organizing the attacks on
the regional express train network at Saint-Michel Station.
The attack leave 8 people dead and 117 injured