6 October 1981: Egypt's President Sadat assassinated

President Sadat of Egypt has died after being shot by gunmen who opened fire as he watched an aerial display at a military parade. A number of other dignitaries including foreign diplomats were killed or seriously wounded. The Egyptian authorities have declared a state of emergency. President Sadat was attending the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur war with Israel as Field Marshal of the armed forces. He had taken the salute, laid a wreath and was viewing an aerial display from the Egyptian Air force when two grenades exploded. Gunmen then leapt from a military truck in front of the presidential reviewing stand and ran towards the spectators, raking officials with automatic gunfire.