Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - 15 May Organization
The 15 May Organization was formed in 1979 from remnants of Wadi Haddad`s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Special Operations Group (PFLP-SOG). It was led by Muhammad al-Umari, who is known in Palestinian circles as Abu Ibrahim or the bomb man. The group was never part of PLO. It was reportedly disbanded in the mid-1980`s when several key members joined Colonel Hawari`s Special Operations Group of Fatah.
The 15 May Organization claimed responsibility for several bombings in the early and middle 1980`s. One was a hotel bombing in London in 1980 and another was at the offices of El Al in Rome and Istanbul on 1981. They attacked Israeli Embassies in Athens and Vienna in 1981. They attempted the bombing of a Pan Am airliner in Rio de Janeiro and a bombing on board a Pan Am flight from Tokyo to Honolulu in August 1982.
It is estimated that inn the early 1980`s the group had 50 to 60 members. They operated in Baghdad and probably received logistic and financial support from Iraq until until 1984. Before disbanding they were also active throughout the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia. Abu Ibrahim is reportedly in Iraq.