The hostages included the Papal nuncio to Colombia, Angelo Acerbi, as well as the ambassadors from fourteen countries: Austria, Brazil, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Dominican Republic | Bogotá | 1980 | Dominican | Dominican Order | 1980 Summer Olympics | 1980 in music | 1980 Winter Olympics | Wrestling at the 1980 Summer Olympics | Siege of Sarajevo | Bogota | Siege of Yorktown | Canadian federal election, 1980 | UEFA Euro 1980 | 1980 Summer Olympics boycott | United States presidential election, 1980 | 1998 United States embassy bombings | Dominican peso | Canoeing at the 1980 Summer Olympics | 1980 in baseball | Siege of Vienna | Siege of Vicksburg | Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) | Siege of Petersburg | Siege of Leningrad | Siege of Kut | Friday the 13th (1980 film) | 1980 in television | Siege of San Sebastian | Siege of Corinth |
Although Colombia's 40-year long conflict with guerrilla groups had given many reasons for such a unit to exist, two terrorist acts in particular worked as catalysts in the formation the unit: the Dominican embassy siege in 1980 and the Palace of Justice siege (Colombian Supreme Court) in 1985.
In 1980 Asencio was - along with a dozen other diplomats - held hostage for 61 days when members of the guerrilla group 19th of April Movement (M-19), led by Rosemberg Pabón, seized the Dominican Republic's embassy in Bogotá.