Tunnel Secrets. Lima, Peru. 126 Days of Captivity in the Japanese Ambassador's Residence
On the night of December 17, 1996, a platoon of 14 members of the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru (MRTA) stormed the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Lima during the celebration of Emperor Akihito's birthday. 700 guests were left lying on the floor, subjected to the overwhelming threat of machine guns and grenades. At midnight, the terrorists agreed to the release of women and elderly persons, and 381 prominent individuals remained captive: cabinet ministers, ambassadors, politicians, business leaders, senior military and police commanders, and various public figures. Over the following 15 days, for better control of the captives, the MRTA gradually released hostages until reaching the 72 who were destined to live through a captivity of 126 days. (Excerpt from the introduction).