Historical timeline for March 20

La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day.

Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict.

Four suspected Taliban members attack the Kabul Serena Hotel, killing at least nine people.

At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq.

Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland begins eruptions that would last for three months, heavily disrupting air travel in Europe.

Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby.

Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq.

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English.

Legoland California, the first Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California, US.

The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo carries out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, killing 14 and wounding over 6,200 people.

The Troubles: A Provisional IRA bomb kills two children in Warrington, England. It leads to mass protests in both Britain and Ireland.

Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.

Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.

Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The Troubles: The first car bombing by the Provisional IRA in Belfast kills seven people and injures 148 others in Northern Ireland.

A United Arab Airlines (now Egyptair) Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Aswan International Airport, killing 100 people.

The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.