Today in History：April 15
A number of civilian targets were hit in the raids1986: US launches air strikes on Libya
England have
At least 100 people have died after USA planes bombed targets in the Libyan
capital, Tripoli, and the Benghazi region.
Around 66 American jets, some of them flying from British bases launched an
attack at around 0100hrs on Monday.
The White House spokesman, Larry Speakes, has said that the strike was
directed at key military sites but reports suggest that missiles also hit Bin
Ashur, a densely populated suburb in the capital.
Colonel Muamar Gaddafi residential compound took a direct hit that killed
Hanna Gaddafi, the adopted baby daughter of the Libyan leader.
President Reagan has justified the attacks by accusing Libya of direct
responsibility for terrorism aimed at America, such as the bombing of La
Bellediscotequein West Berlin 10 days ago.
Self Defence
President Reagan made a TV address to the American people two hours after
the attack.
In it he said : "When our citizens are attacked or abused anywhere in the
world on the direct orders of hostile regimes, we will respond so long as I'm in
this office."
He argued that America was exercising its right to self defence as defined
by Article 51 of the UN charter.
The presidential spokesman, Larry Speakes, said, "US forces have executed a
series of carefully planned air strikes against terrorist targets in Libya."
He added: "Every effort has been made to avoid hitting civilian
targets."
The attacks began soon after an increase in coded radio traffic between US
ships and planes off the Libyan coast had been noticed.
The fighter jets appear to have been both carrier based aircraft, operating
in the Mediterranean and British based bombers which would have refuelled in mid
air.
The Americans hit the harbour's naval academy, the capital's military
airport and army barracks.
Tripoli's embassy area and residential districts also suffered extensive
damage.
The Tripoli central hospital and two other medical centres say they have
treated hundreds of injured people, including a number of Greeks, Italians and
Yugoslavs.
Mobs of angry survivors have taken to the streets shouting: "Down, down
USA. Death to all Americans."
There are also fears that Britain may be subject to terrorist attacks
because some of its involvement in the raids.
The Syrian based terrorist group, Arab Revolutionary Cells, has announced
on Lebanese radio that it will target both British and American interests.
Liverpool fans were trapped by high fences
1989: Soccer fans crushed at Hillsborough
Artificially 1969:
The At least 93 football supporters have been killed in Britain's
worst-ever sporting disaster.
They were crushed to death at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield during the
FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
The crush is said to have resulted from too many Liverpool fans being
allowed in to the back of an already full stand at the Leppings Lane end of the
ground.
More than 2,000 Liverpool fans had still not got into the stadium when the
match started at 1500.
A police spokesman said orders were given for the gate to the stand to be
opened because they believed the pressure of fans outside the ground was "a
danger to life".
But as fans rushed in, those already there were pushed forward and crushed
against the high, wired-topped safety fences.
However, it was more than five minutes into the match before what was
happening became apparent to those not in the Leppings Lane stand.
Then, alerted by fans spilling through a narrow gap onto the pitch or being
lifted by others into the seating areas above, a policeman ran onto the field
and ordered the referee to stop the game.
Bodies
But improved security measures recently introduced at grounds to keep rival
fans apart meant, for many, there was no escape from the crush.
Police and match officials attempted to help those trapped clamber over the
safety barrier.
Bodies were lifted forward and laid out on the pitch - many of them
teenagers and children.
Other injured fans were ferried to ambulances on stretchersimprovisedfrom
crash barriers and advertising hoardings.
At least 200 people were injured, about 20 seriously.
Some fans have said bad ticket allocation contributed to the disaster.
Liverpool has far more supporters than Nottingham Forest but were given
6,000 fewer tickets and allocated the smaller Leppings Lane stand.
Vocabulary:
discotheque:迪斯科舞厅
improvise:to make or provide from available materials(临时准备)
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