On 17 December 1996 , hundreds of diplomats , businessmen , as well as government and military officers were taken hostage by the MRTA at the Japanese ambassadors residence , initiating the Japanese embassy hostage crisis . Over the year , some hostages were released , though 72 hostages remained . Peruvian Marines were then involved in a hostage rescue operation , Operation Chavín de Huántar , named after the Chavín de Huantar archaeological site due to the tunnels dug by troops to access the ambassadors compound . The operation resulted in two commandos and one hostage dead while all fourteen militants were killed . Operation Chavín de Huánta is regarded as one of the most successful hostage rescue operations in history
Japanese embassy hostage crisis
Japanese embassy hostage crisis
Peruvian Naval Infantry