1998 Banbridge bombing
| 1998 Banbridge bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of Real IRA |
The 1998 Banbridge bombing was the explosion of a
The bomb containing 500 lb (230 kg) of explosives was inside a red Vauxhall Cavalier parked on Newry Street.[2] A 20-minute telephone warning was given allowing the police to clear the town centre and potentially avoiding many fatalities, although the warning was "inadequate" and still led to many injuries.[3] The bomb severely damaged the heart of the town and shops in the area, causing an estimated £3.5 million of damage.[4][5]
After the bombing, local residents, paramedics, and emergency services worked tirelessly to help the injured and clear the debris. Witnesses recounted their experiences to reporters, and there were heart-rending stories of people looking for their loved ones in the aftermath of the explosion.[6]
At the time it was the most damaging bomb attack since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April. Two weeks later, the Real IRA would carry out the infamous Omagh bombing. Shortly afterwards, they had a ceasefire.
The town was targeted previously that year by the
See also
- Timeline of Real Irish Republican Army actions
References
- ^ Melaugh, Dr Martin. "CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1998". cain.ulst.ac.uk.
- ^ "BBC News - Latest News - Arson attacks follow bombing". news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "IRA dissidents are suspected of being behind car-bomb blast in Banbridge". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Bombed Banbridge is back in business". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Readers recall awful day bombers targeted town". 9 August 2013.
- ISSN 1715-5673.
- ^ "Banbridge Bomb Incident (Hansard, 19 January 1998)". api.parliament.uk.