As long as there have been people in power, there have been those who would do anything to take that power away. assassination has been a popular tool throughout history to accomplish this.
"Whoops! Another One Bites the Dust: A Comprehensive List of Notable Assassinations from Around the World" takes a look at some of the most famous assassinations from around the globe. From Julius Caesar to JFK, these assassinations have changed the course of history.
In January 1948, Indian independence activist Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse. Godse believed that Gandhi was too accommodating towards Muslims, and felt that his assassination would be the only way to prevent India from becoming a Muslim state.
In November 1963, United States President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by sniper Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy's assassination was a shock to the world, and many theories about who was really behind it have circulated over the years. In September 1970, armed members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated British Home Secretary and Northern Ireland Minister of State for Home Affairs Airey Neave in a car bomb attack at the Houses of Parliament in London. Neave was the first British politician to be killed by the IRA in the Troubles, and his death was a blow to the British government's efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. In December 1980, former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his apartment building in New York City. Chapman had been stalking Lennon for months, and claimed that he was trying to make a statement against celebrity culture by killing one of the most famous celebrities in the world.
2. Salvador Allende, the President of Chile, was killed in a military coup on September 11th, 1973. Allende was a Marxist, and his policies clashed with those of the conservative Chilean military and business interests. His death resulted in a years-long military dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet.
3. Wang Lijun was assassinated in Chengdu. Wang Lijun was a Chinese politician who served as the vice mayor of Chongqing. On February 6, 2012, Wang was assassinated in Chengdu by his bodyguard, Wen Qiang. Wang had been investigating the corruption of Wen and was planning to expose him. However, Wen found out about Wang's investigation and decided to kill him.
4. Heinz Chadwick was murdered in East Germany. Heinz Chadwick was a well-known East German politician who was assassinated in 1975. Chadwick was a member of the Politburo of the Socialist Unity Party (SED), the ruling party of East Germany, and was also the Minister of State Security. He was a controversial figure, as he was known for his hardline stance on dissent and his crackdown on dissident activities. Chadwick was murdered by a bomb that was planted in his car. The bomb exploded as he was driving, and he was killed instantly. The perpetrators of the crime have never been identified, and the case remains unsolved. This assassination was a blow to the SED, as Chadwick was a key member of the party. His death also caused a rift in the party, as there were those who believed that the SED was not doing enough to crack down on dissent. This event was a major factor in the decline of the SED, and eventually led to the collapse of the East German state.
Khaled Meshal was assassinated in Amman, Jordan. On September 25, 1997, the head of the Palestinian political party Hamas, Khaled Meshal, was assassinated in Amman, Jordan. The assassination was carried out by two Israeli Mossad agents using a poison-tipped umbrella. The agents were caught and sentenced to life in prison, but were later released in a prisoner exchange. The assassination of Khaled Meshal was widely condemned by the international community. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions criticized the assassination, stating that it "constituted a clear violation of the right to life".
6. Luís Carlos da Costa; Brazil. On the morning of April 4, 2006, Luís Carlos da Costa was driving to work in São Paulo, Brazil when he was ambushed and killed by unknown assailants. Da Costa was a well-known human rights lawyer and had represented many high-profile clients, including ex-President Fernando Collor de Mello. His work often put him at odds with powerful interests, and it is believed that his assassination was carried out in retaliation for his work.
Tupac Shakur was assassinated in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 7, 1996. The rapper was gunned down in a drive-by shooting while he was stopped at a red light. His murder remains unsolved. Notorious B.I.G. was assassinated in Los Angeles, California on March 9, 1997. The rapper was shot four times in a drive-by shooting while leaving a party at the Peterson Automotive Museum. His murder also remains unsolved. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. The civil rights leader was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. James Earl Ray was convicted of the crime, but many believe that he was not the real killer. John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The president was shot while riding in an open-topped car during a parade. Lee Harvey Oswald was convicted of the crime, but many believe that he was not the real killer. Gianni Versace was assassinated in Miami, Florida on July 15, 1997. The fashion designer was shot twice in the head by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Princess Diana was assassinated in Paris, France on August 31, 1997. The princess was killed in a car crash while being chased by paparazzi. Kurt Cobain was assassinated in Seattle, Washington on April 5, 1994. The Nirvana frontman was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Although it was officially ruled a suicide, many believe that Cobain was actually murdered.
The world is a dangerous place, and it seems that no one is safe from being assassinated. Whether it's for political reasons, personal vendettas, or simply because someone is in the wrong place at the wrong time, assassinations are a sad reality of life. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide a snapshot of some of the most notable assassinations from around the globe.