An Armenian-American , Melkonian left the United States and arrived in Iran in 1978 during the beginning of the 1979 Revolution , taking part in demonstrations against the Shah . Following the collapse of the Shah 's monarchy , he traveled to Lebanon during the height of the civil war and served in an Armenian militia group in the Beirut suburb of Bourj Hammoud . In ASALA , he took part in the assassinations of several Turkish diplomats in Europe during the early to mid-1980s . He planned the 1981 Turkish consulate attack in Paris . He was later arrested and sent to prison in France . In 1989 , he was released and in the following year , acquired a visa to travel to Armenia
1981 Turkish consulate attack in Paris
1981 Turkish consulate attack in Paris
Monte Melkonian