February 2 A bomb explodes at the British Yacht Club in West Berlin, killing Irwin Beelitz, a German boat builder. The German militant group June 2 Movement claims responsibility, announcing its support of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Anti-British riots take place throughout Ireland. The British Embassy in Dublin is burned to the ground, as are several British-owned businesses. February 3–13 – The 1972 Winter Olympics are held in Sapporo, Japan. February 4 – Mariner 9 sends pictures as it orbits Mars. February 15 – President of Ecuador José María Velasco Ibarra is deposed for the fourth time. February 17 – Volkswagen Beetle sales exceed those of the Ford Model T when the 15,007,034th Beetle is produced. February 19 – Asama-Sansō incident: Five United Red Army members break into a lodge below Mount Asama in Japan, taking the wife of the lodgekeeper hostage. February 21 – The Soviet uncrewed spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon. February 21–28 – U.S. President Richard M. Nixon makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the People's Republic of China and meets with Mao Zedong. February 22 The Troubles: 1972 Aldershot bombing – A car bomb planted by the Official Irish Republican Army kills seven people outside a British military base in Aldershot, England."From the archives: IRA kills 7 in raid on Paras' English base" – The Guardian (February 23, 1972) Lufthansa Flight 649 is hijacked and taken to Aden. Passengers are released the following day after a ransom of 5 million US dollars is agreed. February 23 – US activist Angela Davis is released from jail. Rodger McAfee, a farmer from Caruthers, California, helps her make bail. February 26 – Luna 20 comes back to Earth with of lunar soil. February 28 – The Asama-Sansō incident ends in a standoff between 5 members of the Japanese United Red Army and the authorities, in which two policemen are killed and 12 injured.
february 2 a bomb explodes at the british yacht club in west berlin killing irwin beelitz a german boat builder the german militant group june 2 movement claims responsibility announcing its support of the provisional irish republican army anti-british riots take place throughout ireland the british embassy in dublin is burned to the ground as are several british-owned businesses february 3–13 – the 1972 winter olympics are held in sapporo japan february 4 – mariner 9 sends pictures as it orbits mars february 15 – president of ecuador josé maría velasco ibarra is deposed for the fourth time february 17 – volkswagen beetle sales exceed those of the ford model t when the 15007034th beetle is produced february 19 – asama-sansō incident five united red army members break into a lodge below mount asama in japan taking the wife of the lodgekeeper hostage february 21 – the soviet uncrewed spaceship luna 20 lands on the moon february 21–28 – us president richard m nixon makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the people's republic of china and meets with mao zedong february 22 the troubles 1972 aldershot bombing – a car bomb planted by the official irish republican army kills seven people outside a british military base in aldershot england"from the archives ira kills 7 in raid on paras' english base" – the guardian (february 23 1972) lufthansa flight 649 is hijacked and taken to aden passengers are released the following day after a ransom of 5 million us dollars is agreed february 23 – us activist angela davis is released from jail rodger mcafee a farmer from caruthers california helps her make bail february 26 – luna 20 comes back to earth with of lunar soil february 28 – the asama-sansō incident ends in a standoff between 5 members of the japanese united red army and the authorities in which two policemen are killed and 12 injured