Son of a Venezuelan communist lawyer, Carlos “The Jackal” was born Illitch Ramirez Sanchez on October 12, 1949. As a student in Moscow, he came into contact with the KGB, and joined the ranks of the PFLP in the 1970s.

Under the orders of Waddi Haddad, he moved to Paris and began working for Moukarbel. Carlos described himself as an “international professional revolutionary“ and became known for the unpredictability of his strikes, for example the rue Toullier shooting in Paris, killing  two police officers and his boss Moukarbel whom he suspected of treachery. Under the orders of Waddi Haddad, assisted by European terrorists from the far left, Carlos organized a series of violent attacks: hostage taking in Den Haag; the attack on a drugstore on Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris: the two raids at Orly airport. The historical hostage taking of the OPEC ministers in Austria, an operation organized on behalf of Waddi Haddad, with PLO representative Anis Naccache,  H.J. Klein and the RZ, followed. The Jackal took the money for the operation but failed to respect the terms of his contract. When the PLO offered him money in exchange for the lives of the two ministers, Carlos spared them, pocketed the cash and sought refuge in Algiers, thereby rupturing his ties with the Palestinians. Henceforth he went into business for himself, with right hand man Johannes Weinrich at his side. In 1982, Carlos, demanding the release of Bruno Bréguet and his partner Magdalena Kopp, put pressure on the French government with the attacks on rue Marbeuf, the Capitole and St.Charles Station. In his secret dealings with the French state, Vergès, the lawyer representing Kopp and Bréguet, was of crucial importance. Carlos then settled in Damascus where Magdalena Kopp rejoined him upon her release from prison.

Expelled from Syria in 1992, Carlos sought refuge in Sudan, which was to be his final host country. He was kidnaped while undergoing surgery, on August 14, 1994. Following his arrest, Mourad Oussedik promised to defend him, and was soon joined by Vergès. Since 1997, Carlos has been represented by his wife, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, a past collaborator of Vergès’. Carlos was judged and sentenced to life for the rue Toullier murders.

Today he is still incarcerated in Clairvaux prison where he waits to be judged very soon for the attacks at rue Marbeuf, St.Charles Station and the Capitole, for which Judge Bruguière has just closed the investigation.


Additional information:
— Extracted the book (pdf) : « Dans l'ombre du Chacal » (Im Schatten des Schakals), Oliver Schröm.
— Letters at Vergès, Genoud et condoléances aux filles Genoud
— Comment et pourquoi j'ai pris en otage les ministres de l'OPEP ?
— http://www.aredam.net/carlos-2.html
— http://www.aredam.net/lettres.html