Political assassinations and attempts have been a tragic part of the 21st century, with notable incidents occurring globally. In September 2022, Argentina’s then-Vice President Cristina Fernández narrowly avoided an assassination attempt when a man pointed a handgun at her at point-blank range. In July 2022, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was tragically assassinated by a gunman during a campaign speech. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt in November 2021 when armed drones targeted his residence, injuring his security guards. British lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death by an Islamic State supporter in October 2021, and Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021, leading to indictments for his killing.
In April 2021, Chad President Idriss Deby Itno was killed in battle with rebels just hours after being declared the winner of an election. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in August 2018 when drones armed with explosives detonated near him during a speech. Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead by a Turkish policeman in December 2016, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived a coup attempt in July 2016. British lawmaker Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed by a far-right supporter in June 2016, and Tunisian left-wing opposition leader Chokri Belaid was assassinated in February 2013.
In 2011, longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi was killed by insurgents after being toppled in an uprising, while U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords survived an assassination attempt in Arizona that left six others dead. In 2007, Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female prime minister, was killed by a suicide bomber at a political rally. Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed by a suicide bomb in 2005, and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was assassinated in front of the Serbian government headquarters in 2003. French President Jacques Chirac survived an assassination attempt in 2002, and Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was gunned down by an animal rights activist in the same year.
Nepal’s King Birendra was killed in 2001 when his son opened fire on the royal family in a dispute over marriage. Congo President Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001 by one of his bodyguards. These tragic events serve as reminders of the risks faced by political leaders around the world and the importance of security measures to protect them. The impact of these assassinations and attempts reverberates globally, underscoring the need for vigilance and preventative measures to safeguard political leaders and maintain stability in a turbulent world.
