1972 Moroccan coup attempt

1972 Moroccan coup d'état attempt

Hassan's damaged Boeing 727 after the 1972 Airmen's coup attempt
Date16 August 1972
Location
Over Tetouan, Morocco
Result Coup attempt fails
Belligerents
Morocco Government of Morocco Morocco Coup plotters
Commanders and leaders
King Hassan II Morocco Mohamed Oufkir  †
Morocco Mohamed Amekrane  Executed
Casualties and losses
8 killed and 40 wounded

The 1972 Moroccan coup attempt was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco on 16 August 1972. The attempted coup d'état occurred in Morocco when a rebel faction within the Moroccan military attempted to shoot down an aircraft carrying the King of Morocco, Hassan II. The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir, a close advisor to King Hassan. He was assisted by Mohamed Amekrane, commander of the Moroccan air force base at Kenitra. The coup and protests aimed at overthrowing the authoritarian monarchy of King Hassan and his Alaouite dynasty in Morocco and forming a democratic republic that represented the Moroccan people instead.[1] On August 16, four Northrop F-5 jets, acting on Oufkir's orders, intercepted King Hassan's Boeing 727 as it returned from France.[2] Reportedly, King Hassan grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack, believing that their mission had been accomplished.[3]

Hassan's plane, which had been strafed by the air force jets, killing eight and injuring 40,[4] landed safely at Rabat's airport.

  1. ^ Miller, Susan Gilson (2013-04-15). A History of Modern Morocco. Cambridge University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-521-81070-8. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  2. ^ The Air Force role in low-intensity conflict. DIANE Publishing. 1986. p. 56. ISBN 1428928278.
  3. ^ Gregory, Joseph R. (July 24, 1999). "Hassan II of Morocco Dies at 70; A Monarch Oriented to the West". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Morocco: the Islamist awakening and other challenges. Marvine Howe, p. 111