2021 City of Asilica Terrorist Attack

2021 City of Asilica terrorist attack
The cloud of dust and debris caused by the explosion, pictured from a boat in Asilica Harbor.
Location	Grand Council of Asilica 100 Via Consiglio, Asilica, Asilica
Date	June 21, 2021 (2021-06-21) 8:01 a.m. (UTC +6:00)
Target	Government of Asilica
Attack type	Truck bombing, mass shooting, mass murder
Weapons	ANFO fertilizer truck bomb A.R.M.S. LR10 automatic rifle, 5.56×45mm ammunition
Deaths	850+
Injured	1,500+
Perpetrators	Benedikt Schöner
Motive	Anti-Morst xenophobia, Pan-Ethalrian nationalism

The 2021 City of Asilica Terrorist Attack, also called the 21/6 attacks or 21/6/21, were two related terrorist acts that took place in Asilica, the capital city of Asilica, on June 21st, 2021. While the final tally of casualties has not yet been released by Asilican authorities, the most recent estimate is more than 850 people dead and more than 1,500 people injured. The first terrorist act was the explosion of what is believed to have been an improvised ammonium nitrate fertilizer-based bomb mounted in a van or truck at 8:01am local time, just after the Grand Council had gaveled into session. The blast entirely demolished the building housing the Grand Council of Asilica, the lower house of that country's legislature. All those inside, including Chancellor Lisetta Gronden and the entire Council of State, were killed instantly. Also catastrophically damaged were the Grand Council Secretariat, the building housing the offices and support staff of the Councilors, and the Classical Era Wing of the National Museum of History. There were also several storefronts either across the street or within the radius of a few city blocks that were either completely or partially damaged, most notably the flagship storefront and headquarters of the Asilican watch company Janus Group SA.

The second act of terror was a mass shooting committed by Benedikt Schöner, a 51-year old Asilica canton man who was employed by the canton as a garbage collector. Schöner, who was not reported as missing from work because he had bribed a coworker to fraudulently swipe his time card, was parked in his car across the street from the Senate building, several blocks to the north of the blast, at the time of the explosion. Armed with an LR-10 automatic assault rifle, legally purchased from a licensed militia equipment dealer, he shot at victims of the blast as they fled. Schöner shot at least 48 people, 19 of whom died. This act alone would have ranked as the single deadliest terror incident in Asilican history, a record previously held by the 1997 University of Valladia shooting in which 13 women were killed by self-proclaimed anti-feminist activist Franz Stenzel.

Schöner was killed at the scene by Lt. Mario Pfefferhausen of the City of Asilica Transit Police, who had approached the blast from the Senate-Opera House station of the Asilica Underground some three blocks to the east. Schöner's last words were reported to be "They'll figure out the rest of it," and multiple witnesses reported that he laughed during the shooting as well as while he lay dying. No manifesto was found on his person or in his car, and the meaning of his final words have not yet been determined. The National Police ordered the streets of Asilica cleared in an immediate shelter-in-place order under the presumption that further assailants could be preparing to launch further attacks.

At Schöner's home, investigators discovered "significant amounts" of Ethalrian nationalist material, including books, pamphlets, bumper stickers, flags, and both replica and functioning historic Ethalrian weaponry. Among his papers, membership documents from the now-defunct Pan-Ethalrian Nationalist Unity Coalition were found. The organization, active between 1992 and 1996, had as many as 50 active members at its peak, but was disbanded when its leadership was arrested on money laundering charges. This raises the possibility that Schöner was acting with the intent to spur a takeover of Asilica from one of the former Ethalrian states, perhaps as a first step in reuniting Ethalria. In addition to nationalist materials, the garage contained several dozen empty bags of farm fertilizer with ammonium nitrate, leading investigators to indicate that it is "almost certain" that Schöner was also responsible for the bomb blast, or at least that his home was used by potential collaborators to create the bomb.

Continuity of Government considerations

The blast instantly killed almost all of the Grand Council of Asilica, the lower chamber of the National Assembly. Only 12 Grand Councilors survived, having been on a delayed train in the Asilican Underground at the time of the explosion. As meetings of the Grand Council require at least 151 Councilors (a majority) present to be able to take any action, it is currently impossible for the Grand Council to meet, and therefore for any government to be formed or laws to be passed. Asilican law has no provisions dealing with the circumstance of the entire Grand Council being killed in a single incident, meaning that by the text of the law, no Grand Council can be called until after the next regularly scheduled elections in April of 2024.

President Jörg Renatsch, elected in January of 2020, is the constitutional Commander-in-Chief of the Armies and Militias, an otherwise ceremonial title that gives him de jure control over the country's military apparatus without the necessity of a functioning Council of State. And as cited by the President's Chief of Staff, Calogero Galati, there is "plain legal basis for the President to direct government efforts" based in the Constitution's text that says the President shall "preserve and enforce the law," that the President's office is currently using to justify the President's place at the top of the improvised chain of command.

“	The President is constitutionally the Commander-in-Chief of the Armies and Militias and he is tasked with preserving and enforcing the law. There is plain legal basis for the President to direct government efforts at this time, and this office is proceeding as such at this time, but there are questions as to how the presidency should be operating in this scenario that will need to be resolved.	„
—Calogero Galati, Chief of Staff to President of Asilica Jörg Renatsch, 21 June 2021

Militia Activity

Asilica maintains no standing army and only a small standing, professional Naval force. Defense of the country is coordinated through militias of private citizens raised by each of Asilica's 24 cantons and canton-level municipalities. While all Asilican citizens serve a mandatory conscription period of 2 years with their canton militia, constitutionally the militias are outside of the control of the national government unless the President issues a call to "raise the Armies." This directive, under normal circumstances issued upon the advice of the Chancellor, could be issued by President Renatsch unilaterally. It was unclear on the day of the blast whether or not the President had done so. Without the call to raise the Armies, the militias legally cannot cross into other cantons. Militia officials in several cantons indicated that they were in communication and were prepared to coordinate and move extralegally on the presumption that there was no longer a functioning chain of command, but that to do so would be to impose "martial law" and that they would only do so if it was clear there was no alternative. According to the commander of the Legion of Sirena, the militia for Sirena canton, "What we want to do right now is project a sense of security and stability, as it seems we are the only ones remaining to do so."

Foreign Response

After the attack, many countries reached out to Asilica to offer assistance and words of sympathy and solidarity.

Alksearia: Queen Dorothea announced the mobilization of numerous Charitable Aid Agencies within Alksearia and have been mobilized to go to Asilica ASAP. The Speaker of the General Assembly held a minute of silence at the start of the afternoon session. The Prime Minister and the Queen will be releasing a joint statement on any further actions.

Axdel: President Diego Corbinn stated his condolences to those affected by the attack, and described it as a "callous attempt to destroy the one of the most peaceful and prosperous nations on our continent." A humanitarian aid mission sending medical and technical support was launched on the day of the attack, and the armed forces in the Azure Sea were put on high alert in case of any additional attacks.

Cryria: Queen Ulrika II "unreservedly" condemned the "horrific attacks on innocent lives," and offered condolences "in this time of tragedy."

Great Morstaybishlia: Prime Minister Franklin Barvata stated that his country "mourns and stands firmly with Asilica and its people," further urging Morstaybishlians in the City of Asilica to "cooperate with local authorities." The Morstaybishlian government also suspended all flights from Asilica.

Lapinumbia: Doge Enrico Dandolo said that "this was not merely an attack on Asilica," arguing that "this was an attack against the entire international order." He went on to note that "despite the ocean that separates" Lapinumbia and Asilica, Lapinumbia would stand by Asilica nonetheless.

Mexregiona: Citing the Tripartite Pact of Amity, Mexregional Head of State Mister Leader III said in a statement "Asilica is one of this country’s oldest allies, and with their partnership, our country has gained much. It is not only right, but obligatory, for us to assist them now in their time of need." He pledged the assistance of more than 1,000 troops, including the Army's 2nd Regiment and the Air Force's 105th Air Defense Squadron.

New Leganés: Prime Minister Areuína Karnéias offered President Renatsch cooperation and condolences "in the name of the Commonwealth and National Governments of the Cukish citizenry". She remembered the terrorist attack that took place in March of the same year, since ammonium nitrate was used too, and announced a proposal to the International Forum for implementing stricter regulations on the fertiliser.

Oscrelia: Chancellor Melissa Chester released a statement the attacks in the "highest possible terms," and offered to provide whatever aid it could "in these most trying of times." Chester also ordered that all Oscrelian flags be flown at half-mast, and had the Oscrelian National Assembly observe a minute of silence when it convened.

Reijia: Co-Consul Ora Rashka said in remarks "Today, we are all Asilicans" and pledged the support of the entire 275-member Army of the Free Republic, the Armed Forces of Reijia outside Tavari control. Rashka also announced that Reijia would be sending $500 million SHD in aid.

Rosalica: Chancellor Ade Timmerman sent law enforcement, first responders and military officials to assist in securing the City of Asilica and the surrounding areas, many of which are relatively near the border with Rosalica. Rosalican Coast Guard officials also confirmed that they were working with the Asilican Navy.

Sarentria: Prime Minister Ositha Boracova and her government condemned the attacks, and worked with Asilican officials to suspend all travel between the two countries. Boracova also offered various forms of assistance to Asilica.

Sokala: President Domingo Rolex denounced the attacks calling them "an affront to global peace" in a press conference. Rolex also said that "Sokala stands with Asilica through this rough times".

Tretrid: Prime Minister Eoforwine Æthelstanesunu made remarks characterizing the attacks as "a cowardly attempt to undo a nation's right to democracy and self-determination," and expressed "most sincere condolences" for the loss of the Council of State.

International organizations

UNAC: The Auroran Council voted 13-0 to officially condemn "those responsible for the horrific events in Asilica." The UNAC also approved Asilica's application to join the organization in the aftermath of the attack.