SOUTH VIETNAM: VIET CONG BLAST CHOLON POST OFFICE.

Record ID: 230370

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: VIET CONG BLAST CHOLON POST OFFICE.
  • Date: 1st April 1969
  • Summary: GENERAL SCENES OF WRECKED BUILDING. Initials CP/VS/CT/LAD Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th April 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EEQTP3I0XEA5Y6VZLIRIRVJ7
  • Story Text: THREE VIET CONG SHOT THEIR WAY INTO A MAJOR SAIGON POST OFFICE ON SUNDAY (30 MARCH) AND EXPLODED A PLASTIC BOMB WHICH DESTROYED ALMOST HALF THE BUILDING. THE BOMB EXPLODED IN THE BUILDING'S MAIN BUSINESS HALL.

    EIGHT PEOPLE WERE INJURED BY THE BLAST AND TWO GUARDS WOUNDED DURING THE WILD GUN BATTLE WHICH PRECEDED THE DARING DAYLIGHT ATTACK.

    THE POST OFFICE, IN SAIGON'S CHINESE DISTRICT OF CHOLON, WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT ALMOST DESERTED WHEN THE VIET CONG STRUCK.

    THE BLAST RIPPED GAPING HOLES THROUGH WIRE PARTITIONS, ACROSS THE SERVING COUNTER, CRACKED THE CEILING OF THE HALL, RIPPED DOORS FROM THEIR HINGES, AND BLEW OUT ALMOST THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE TWO-STOREY BUILDING.

    POSTAL OFFICIALS SAID ABOUT FIVE EMPLOYEES AND THREE CUSTOMERS WERE IN THE BUILDING AT THE TIME. SOME WERE BADLY HURT.

    POLICE CORDONED OFF THE AREA AND THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WAS SEALED OFF BECAUSE IT WAS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE.

    AT LEAST 20 ATTACKS BY VIET CONG AGENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SAIGON DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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