meanwhile, as a way to draw attention to its struggle, the fln began to target urban areas and larger cities. on september 30 1956, the battle of algiers had begun by three women allied with the fln simultaneously placing bombs in public places in algiers, including an air france terminus and a popular bar for "pieds-noirs". both sides fought against each other: algerian nationalists bombed and waged guerrilla warfare, and in turn,the french repeatedly tortured and murdered algerian prisoners.