Former SLA Member Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Kill Los Angeles Police Officers

October 31, 2001

Los Angeles: Kathleen Soliah, the reputed former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), today pleaded guilty to two counts of planting bombs under police vehicles with the intent to kill Los Angeles Police Officers.
On August 21, 1975, Soliah planted a pipe bomb under a police car at the International House of Pancakes on Sunset Boulevard. Additionally, on or about August 22, 1975, she planted another bomb under a Hollenbeck Area police vehicle. In 1976, Soliah was indicted and in 1999, she was apprehended in Saint Paul Minnesota, where she had assumed a new name and identity.
"Today’s guilty plea by Kathleen Soliah, while underscoring the threat of domestic terrorism, brings some closure to a period of serious criminal activity which pervaded our communities during the 1970’s," said Los Angeles Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks. Continuing, Chief Parks stated, "It was a direct affront to the law enforcement community and the law-abiding public to witness Soliah’s continued defiance to society, even after she pleaded guilty to these horrendous crimes."
On behalf of the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Parks expressed appreciation to District Attorney Steve Cooley and his team of expert prosecutors in their pursuit of this case. Additionally, Chief Parks expressed appreciation to the team of Robbery Homicide Division Detectives Michael Fanning, Jay Moberly, Tom Brascia, Ralph Morales and Victor Pietrantoni, for their relentless investigative efforts.
This release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.