NAME: Japanese Red Army (JRA) a.k.a. Anti-Imperialist International Brigade (AIIB)
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: Around 1970.
GOALS: To overthrow the Japanese government and monarchy and to help foment world revolution.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: In 1972 the JRA attempted a takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. In April 1988, JRA operative Yu Kikumura was arrested with explosives on the New Jersey Turnpike, apparently planning an attack to coincide with the bombing of a USO club in Naples, a suspected JRA operation that killed five, including a U.S. servicewoman.
STRENGTH: About six hard-core members; undetermined number of sympathizers.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: The JRA has carried out a series of attacks around the world. Location unknown, but possibly traveling in Asia or Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon.
AFFILIATIONS: Unknown. Has history of close relations with Palestinian terrorist groups based and operating outside Japan. May control or at least have ties to Anti-Imperialist International Brigade (AIIB); also may have links to Antiwar Democratic Front — an overt leftist political organization — inside Japan.
COMMENTS: The JRA is a break away from the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 2000, it was removed from the FTO list on October 5, 2001.