Reagan Defiant After Threats

President Reagan responded defiantly Tuesday to threats from Abul Abbas, the Palestinian extremist who is thought to have masterminded the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro last October.

Asked what he thought of Abbas’ vow, made in an NBC television interview, to strike at targets in the United States, Reagan said, “He’s gonna strike out.”

The subject of terrorism continued to overshadow economic issues here as Reagan and six other world leaders concluded the 12th annual economic summit meeting at Japan’s state Guest House.

Told that Abbas had singled him out as “Enemy No. 1” and was threatening to launch attacks on the United States, Reagan paused on his way to the summit’s final meeting and told reporters, “Let him try.”

“You’re not scared?” Reagan was asked.

“No,” he replied firmly.

In his television interview, Abbas said Reagan has replaced Israel in his eyes as the prime enemy of Arab interests because of the April 15 bombing raid on the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.

Abbas was aboard the Egyptian airliner that was carrying the hijackers of the Achille Lauro to freedom when it was intercepted by U.S. jets and forced to land in Sicily.

To the chagrin of Reagan Administration officials, the Italian government released Abbas and allowed him to flee to Yugoslavia.

Abbas, a leader of the Palestine Liberation Front, a radical splinter group of the Palestine Liberation Organization, is thought to spend much of his time in Damascus, Syria.

The four terrorists accused of hijacking the Italian ship and killing an elderly American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, have been charged in Italy with murder and hijacking.

Abbas was not on board the ship but is suspected of masterminding the operation.

NBC did not provide Abbas’ whereabouts, and in Washington State Department spokesman Charles Redman told reporters he has no information as to where Abbas was when he gave the interview. He said the United States still wants to arrest Abbas.

Redman added: “Obviously terrorism thrives on this kind of publicity. This is the type of interview that gives terrorists a platform that they seek. Such publicity may in fact encourage the terrorist activities which we are all seeking to deter.”