Operation Nimrod

E53211

Operation Nimrod was the 1980 Special Air Service hostage-rescue assault on the Iranian Embassy in London, renowned for its swift, televised resolution of the siege.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf counter-terrorism operation
hostage rescue operation
military operation
aftermath surviving gunman prosecuted in the United Kingdom
alsoKnownAs SAS assault on Iranian Embassy
associatedWith Margaret Thatcher government
Metropolitan Police
casualties five hostage-takers killed
one hostage killed during assault
one hostage-taker captured alive
several hostages injured
commandedBy Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rose
conductedBy British Army
Special Air Service
coordinationWith Metropolitan Police Special Branch
country United Kingdom
date 5 May 1980
endDate 1980-05-05
hasParticipant Blue Team (SAS)
Red Team (SAS)
impact influenced global counter-terrorism tactics
raised public profile of the SAS
legalAuthority authorized by the British government
location Iranian Embassy, London
mediaCoverage broadcast live on British television
extensive international news coverage
notableFor live television coverage
rapid execution
use of stun grenades and explosive entry
objective neutralize hostage-takers of the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan
rescue hostages held in the Iranian Embassy in London
operator 22nd Special Air Service Regiment
partOf Iranian Embassy siege
plannedBy Special Air Service
precededBy six-day Iranian Embassy siege
result British victory
hostages rescued
siege ended
startDate 1980-05-05
tacticalFeature simultaneous multi-point entry
use of diversionary explosions and smoke
theatreOfOperations South Kensington, London
time approximately 19:23 BST
triggeredBy failure of negotiations with hostage-takers
usedEquipment abseiling from rooftop
explosive frame charges
stun grenades

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Special Air Service
notableOperation
Iranian Embassy siege
operationName

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