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7 October
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2001: US launches air strikes against Taleban
The United States launches its military offensive against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan.
1985: Gunmen hijack Italian cruise liner
Palestinian militants hijack the Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean and threaten to blow it up.
2004: British hostage feared dead in Iraq
Fears are growing for the British hostage, Kenneth Bigley, abducted three weeks ago in Iraq.
1959: Southend Pier fire traps hundreds
Three hundred people are rescued after being cut off by a blaze on the world's longest pleasure pier on England's south-east coast.
1977: Invasion of Swedish identical twins
Ninety sets of Swedish identical twins travel to Felixstowe for a brief shopping trip.
Around this Day
4 October
Top Story
1992: El Al jumbo crashes in Amsterdam
5 October
Top Story
1968: Londonderry march ends in violence
6 October
Top Story
1981: Egypt's President Sadat assassinated
8 October
Top Story
1952: Many die as three trains crash at Harrow
9 October
Top Story
1988: Latvia cries freedom from Moscow
10 October
Top Story
1980: Thousands feared dead in Algerian quake
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World War II - 1939 to 1945
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A compilation of key stories as they broke throughout the war
Headlines delivered to your desktop - find out about RSS 
Articles, biographies and multimedia on historical events
Find out what Radio 4 has to offer history lovers