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French Agents' Bold Bomb Plot Against Greenpeace Ship
27 Aug
Summary
- Secret French agents bombed a Greenpeace ship in 1985.
- The bombing led to deaths and a cover-up by French officials.
- The story involves espionage and a dramatic police pursuit.
The 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior, orchestrated by French intelligence, is compellingly revisited in a new documentary. This operation, codenamed Opération Satanique, involved elite agents posing as tourists to sabotage the vessel. Their mission aimed to halt Greenpeace's protests against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
The attack, however, led to the tragic death of photographer Fernando Pereira and the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. Subsequently, the French government engaged in a significant cover-up, issuing denials and attempting to downplay the international incident. The documentary details the subsequent investigation and the eventual capture of two key French agents by New Zealand authorities.
Reflecting on the event, former investigator Terry Batchelor expressed surprise at the audacity of the French government's actions. The narrative underscores the blend of espionage, deception, and the pursuit of justice that characterized this significant environmental and political confrontation.
