6 Days
International terrorism is on the rise over the 1970's. Each act of terrorism is dealt with a template of negotiations and concessions from the victims. The concessions lead to further legitimacy for…
6 Days
International terrorism is on the rise over the 1970's. Each act of terrorism is dealt with a template of negotiations and concessions from the victims. The concessions lead to further legitimacy for the terrorist actions. Recently, US special forces made a disastrous attempt to free 52 Americans held captive in Iran. One year ago, Margaret Thatcher came to power in the UK. On 30 April 1980, six Iranians led by Salim (Ben Turner) storm the Iranian Embassy located in 16 Princes Gate, Kensington in London and held at least 25 hostages. Notable persons have been summoned by the incident, including SAS (Special Air Service) members led by Lance Corporal Rusty Firmin (Jamie Bell), BBC Reporter Kate Adie (Abbie Cornish) (and her cameraman Bill (Martin Hancock)), and Chief Inspector Max Vernon (Mark Strong) of Metropolitan Police. Max is the chief negotiator and is set up 7 doors from the embassy. The SAS team is set up next door to the embassy. The entire area has been cordoned off. The authorities receive a call from Salim (Ben Turner), demanding the release of 91 Arab prisoners in Iran, or else they will kill a hostage by noon the following day, if the demands are not met. The terrorists identify themselves as the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the liberation of Arabistan. The Iranian government refuses to play ball. The UK Government has to decide whether to negotiate with the terrorists or to use force. William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw (Tim Pigott-Smith) is the Home Secretary. Thatcher orders Whitelaw that the full extent of British law needs to be applied to the situation. The regular negotiator Tom (Matthew Sunderland) gets really tired after being at his station all night. On Day 2, Max negotiates with Salim by phone, saying that Max will help him by means of no violence. Ax explains that Britain cannot force Iran to release any prisoners, especially when both countries are not on friendly terms. Max tells Salim that Iran has washed their hands of the situation (They had spoken to the terrorists as well and told them to blow up the embassy staff) and so, now it is up to Max and Salim to find a way out. After that, Salim releases one hostage, due to illness, but Salim maintains his promise that he will start killing the hostages if their demands are not met. Max is able to avert an attack from the SAS forces, who were ready to move in if the terrorists killed any hostage. After Max brings food to the terrorists, Salim speaks to Max, demanding two buses to Heathrow Airport. Max is able to buy 48 hours to deliver the same. The SAS team uses the time to start snooping inside the embassy to get a lay of where the hostages are and the preparedness of the terrorists. They are face with 30 rooms across 6 floors of the embassy and with each terrorist armed to the teeth with soviet era grenades called the RGD-5, with 4 ounces of high explosives packed inside with 350 steel fragments. The SAS team also practices how to attack a bus full of hostages, in case they need to attack at Heathrow. But the British Government rules out any attack on the bus (as it did not work for the Germans at Munich) and rules out any escape for the terrorists. Thatcher is clear that the terrorists will be tried as per the law of the land. The SAS comes up with another plan to enter the embassy through the skylight at night and to kill the terrorists with silent weapons while they are sleeping, or their guard is down. That plan is also shot down. On Day 3 and 4, Salim calls again, demanding that the Arab Ambassador speak with them. Salim's right-hand man, Faisal (Aymen Hamdouchi), takes one hostage to be killed, but Salim argues with him to stop the slaughter. Max is able to hear everything through the sensors placed inside the embassy. However, the Arab authorities refuse to be part of the negotiation. Salim calls Max, demanding to speak to the BBC, and Max reluctantly agrees. A vengeful Salim says that his people are being tortured by the Persians. Afterwards, Salim reluctantly releases another hostage. That hostage reveals that the terrorists are planning to kill everyone if they don't get what they want. The SAS team prepares a plan to storm the embassy once they have proof of murder. On Day 5, as per Salim's demand, the BBC World Service are able to broadcast the message from the terrorists, stating that the reason for arriving in the UK is because of the oppression by the Iranian government in Arabistan. Hearing the news, Salim thanks Max and releases two hostages. On Day 6, Faisal kills a hostage after the demand of bringing the bus is not met. The shooting prompts the SAS to take action of infiltrating the embassy. Rusty requests Max to keep Salim busy on the phone while his team gets in place. Max does that, which allows for the attack to proceed. Once inside, they manage to release the hostages safely and kill the terrorists including Salim and Faisal. Salim is killed in gunfire. Faisal tries to escape as one of the hostages, but Rusty identifies him and shoots him dead on the spot. Thatcher's deployment of the SAS was groundbreaking at the time and remains the gold standard of government response to terrorist sieges.
6 Days
Action,Drama,History
Film Details
International terrorism is on the rise over the 1970's. Each act of terrorism is dealt with a template of negotiations and concessions from the victims. The concessions lead to further legitimacy for the terrorist actions.
Recently, US special forces made a disastrous attempt to free 52 Americans held captive in Iran. One year ago, Margaret Thatcher came to power in the UK. On 30 April 1980, six Iranians led by Salim (Ben Turner) storm the Iranian Embassy located in 16 Princes Gate, Kensington in London and held at least 25 hostages.
Notable persons have been summoned by the incident, including SAS (Special Air Service) members led by Lance Corporal Rusty Firmin (Jamie Bell), BBC Reporter Kate Adie (Abbie Cornish) (and her cameraman Bill (Martin Hancock)), and Chief Inspector Max Vernon (Mark Strong) of Metropolitan Police. Max is the chief negotiator and is set up 7 doors from the embassy. The SAS team is set up next door to the embassy.
The entire area has been cordoned off. The authorities receive a call from Salim (Ben Turner), demanding the release of 91 Arab prisoners in Iran, or else they will kill a hostage by noon the following day, if the demands are not met. The terrorists identify themselves as the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the liberation of Arabistan.
The Iranian government refuses to play ball. The UK Government has to decide whether to negotiate with the terrorists or to use force. William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw (Tim Pigott-Smith) is the Home Secretary.
Thatcher orders Whitelaw that the full extent of British law needs to be applied to the situation. The regular negotiator Tom (Matthew Sunderland) gets really tired after being at his station all night. On Day 2, Max negotiates with Salim by phone, saying that Max will help him by means of no violence.
Ax explains that Britain cannot force Iran to release any prisoners, especially when both countries are not on friendly terms. Max tells Salim that Iran has washed their hands of the situation (They had spoken to the terrorists as well and told them to blow up the embassy staff) and so, now it is up to Max and Salim to find a way out. After that, Salim releases one hostage, due to illness, but Salim maintains his promise that he will start killing the hostages if their demands are not met.
Max is able to avert an attack from the SAS forces, who were ready to move in if the terrorists killed any hostage. After Max brings food to the terrorists, Salim speaks to Max, demanding two buses to Heathrow Airport. Max is able to buy 48 hours to deliver the same.
The SAS team uses the time to start snooping inside the embassy to get a lay of where the hostages are and the preparedness of the terrorists. They are face with 30 rooms across 6 floors of the embassy and with each terrorist armed to the teeth with soviet era grenades called the RGD-5, with 4 ounces of high explosives packed inside with 350 steel fragments. The SAS team also practices how to attack a bus full of hostages, in case they need to attack at Heathrow.
But the British Government rules out any attack on the bus (as it did not work for the Germans at Munich) and rules out any escape for the terrorists. Thatcher is clear that the terrorists will be tried as per the law of the land. The SAS comes up with another plan to enter the embassy through the skylight at night and to kill the terrorists with silent weapons while they are sleeping, or their guard is down.
That plan is also shot down. On Day 3 and 4, Salim calls again, demanding that the Arab Ambassador speak with them. Salim's right-hand man, Faisal (Aymen Hamdouchi), takes one hostage to be killed, but Salim argues with him to stop the slaughter.
Max is able to hear everything through the sensors placed inside the embassy. However, the Arab authorities refuse to be part of the negotiation. Salim calls Max, demanding to speak to the BBC, and Max reluctantly agrees.
A vengeful Salim says that his people are being tortured by the Persians. Afterwards, Salim reluctantly releases another hostage. That hostage reveals that the terrorists are planning to kill everyone if they don't get what they want.
The SAS team prepares a plan to storm the embassy once they have proof of murder. On Day 5, as per Salim's demand, the BBC World Service are able to broadcast the message from the terrorists, stating that the reason for arriving in the UK is because of the oppression by the Iranian government in Arabistan. Hearing the news, Salim thanks Max and releases two hostages.
On Day 6, Faisal kills a hostage after the demand of bringing the bus is not met. The shooting prompts the SAS to take action of infiltrating the embassy. Rusty requests Max to keep Salim busy on the phone while his team gets in place.
Max does that, which allows for the attack to proceed. Once inside, they manage to release the hostages safely and kill the terrorists including Salim and Faisal. Salim is killed in gunfire.
Faisal tries to escape as one of the hostages, but Rusty identifies him and shoots him dead on the spot. Thatcher's deployment of the SAS was groundbreaking at the time and remains the gold standard of government response to terrorist sieges..