1977 Hanafi Siege occurred on March 9 – 11 , 1977 when three buildings in Washington , D.C. were seized by 12 Hanafi Muslim gunmen . The gunmen were led by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis , who wanted to bring attention to the murder of his family in 1973 . They took 149 hostages and killed radio journalist Maurice Williams . After a 39-hour standoff , the gunmen surrendered and all remaining hostages were released from the District Building ( the city hall ; now called the John A. Wilson Building ) , B'nai B'rith headquarters , and the Islamic Center of Washington
murder of his family in 1973
1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre
1977 Washington, D.C. attack and hostage taking