The Greenpeace flagship was blown up in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand on this day.

There were two explosions, a minute apart. The boat sank in 4 minutes. One man died. There were 11 on board at the time of the attack.

The boat was due to lead a flotilla to the Mururoa Atoll in the Pacific to protest the French nuclear tests there.

The French at first denied they had anything to do with the attack, but New Zealand police arrested two French secret service agents. It was discovered that they had planted two bombs on board.

It wasn't until a British newspaper discovered evidence that French President, Francois Mitterrand, had authorized the bombing of the boat, that France finally admitted responsibility, and a number of senior level resignations occurred.

The two secret service agents were sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter and willful damage, but were released to French authorities a year later.