The Irish Republican Army – of which the Provisional IRA is a branch – is perhaps the most infamous terrorist organization in Britain. Formed in the 20th Century, the group was not afraid to resort to violence to achieve its ultimate goal of a reunified Ireland. Although various truces with the PIRA were negotiated, these would not last and, by the mid 1990s, the PIRA started to terrrorise and bomb England again. Whilst London was obviously the main target for the PIRA bombers, Manchester was also high up on their list and was by no means safe. In fact, Manchester had been subject of a number of threats from the IRA dating back to the 1970s culminating in the biggest bombing in Britain since World War Two.
Although the 1996 bombing was the most devastating and widely covered, it was not the first time the PIRA had targeted Manchester. As one of the biggest cities inEngland, it is no surprise that Manchester was the centre of some of the PIRA’s attacks. One such attack was in 1974 when the IRA planted a bomb in Manchester Magistrates Court, killing 12 people. What was even more worrying was the discovery of IRA bomb making factories in Salford and Fallowfield, add to this the constant tension within Northern Ireland and Manchester, along with many other cities in England, were justifiably worried about the threat posed by the IRA and PIRA.
The series of threats, foiled attacks and general IRA trouble in Manchester came to a head on Saturday the 15th of June 1996 when the biggest bomb since World War Two was detonated in central Manchester. Early that morning two IRA members had abandoned a van containing the bombs on Corporation Street (Near Marks and Spencers, Selfridges and just up the road from Victoria Station today). Thankfully, a short time later a member from the IRA phoned up Granada Studios in Manchester to warn of the imminent bombing. This meant that thousands of deaths and injuries could be avoided – it was estimated that around the warning being issued there were 80,000 people in central Manchester. Following the warning, a massive evacuation of the area took place and a bomb squad was called to try to prevent the bomb from exploding.
Unfortunately the bomb squad would not be successful and just after 11 o’clock the bomb exploded injuring 212 people and causing untold damage.
Of the 212 injured astonishingly none died and considering the number of people around central Manchester just a couple of hours before it was a miracle that it was only a couple hundred injured and not a couple thousand. Whilst the bomb did not cause any human fatalities, the sky bridge, Marks and Spencer and surrounding buildings were all destroyed. In terms of damage, it is estimated that by 2015 reparations have exceeded £1 billion pounds. It was actually the shattered glass and falling debris, rather than the bomb itself, which was responsible for many of the injuries suffered. A few days after the bombing the IRA took responsibility for the crime, although stating that it regretted injuring civilians.
What is perhaps the most troubling thing of all in the 1996 Manchester bombing was the fact that although the IRA admitted responsibility, no individuals were ever charged with the crime. However, both the investigation and attempted trials were poorly conducted leading to widespread criticism of the Greater Manchester Police, who, in 2006, admitted that it was unlikely that anyone would ever be charged with the bombing.
Eventually Manchester recovered and was repaired to look like the Manchester known so well today. In terms of memorials, the most famous and long lasting is the post box that survived the 1996 bombing. Added to it was a plaque that reads: ‘This postbox remained standing almost undamaged on June 15th 1996 when this area was devastated by a bomb. The box was removed during the rebuilding of the city centre and was returned to its original site onNovember 22nd 1999.’
Ultimately the IRA’s troubling connection with Manchester would come to an end with both the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought stability to Northern Ireland and the disbanding of the Provisional IRA in 2005. Whilst the safety of Manchester from the PIRA may now be secured, the history between them is unforgettable and acts as a poignant reminder of how far relations have progressed.
The IRA in Manchester · Manchester Historian
January 15, 2016 by maximios • History
The Irish Republican Army – of which the Provisional IRA is a branch – is perhaps the most infamous terrorist organization in Britain. Formed in the 20th Century, the group was not afraid to resort to violence to achieve its ultimate goal of a reunified Ireland. Although various truces with the PIRA were negotiated, these would not last and, by the mid 1990s, the PIRA started to terrrorise and bomb England again. Whilst London was obviously the main target for the PIRA bombers, Manchester was also high up on their list and was by no means safe. In fact, Manchester had been subject of a number of threats from the IRA dating back to the 1970s culminating in the biggest bombing in Britain since World War Two.
Although the 1996 bombing was the most devastating and widely covered, it was not the first time the PIRA had targeted Manchester. As one of the biggest cities inEngland, it is no surprise that Manchester was the centre of some of the PIRA’s attacks. One such attack was in 1974 when the IRA planted a bomb in Manchester Magistrates Court, killing 12 people. What was even more worrying was the discovery of IRA bomb making factories in Salford and Fallowfield, add to this the constant tension within Northern Ireland and Manchester, along with many other cities in England, were justifiably worried about the threat posed by the IRA and PIRA.
The series of threats, foiled attacks and general IRA trouble in Manchester came to a head on Saturday the 15th of June 1996 when the biggest bomb since World War Two was detonated in central Manchester. Early that morning two IRA members had abandoned a van containing the bombs on Corporation Street (Near Marks and Spencers, Selfridges and just up the road from Victoria Station today). Thankfully, a short time later a member from the IRA phoned up Granada Studios in Manchester to warn of the imminent bombing. This meant that thousands of deaths and injuries could be avoided – it was estimated that around the warning being issued there were 80,000 people in central Manchester. Following the warning, a massive evacuation of the area took place and a bomb squad was called to try to prevent the bomb from exploding.
Unfortunately the bomb squad would not be successful and just after 11 o’clock the bomb exploded injuring 212 people and causing untold damage.
Of the 212 injured astonishingly none died and considering the number of people around central Manchester just a couple of hours before it was a miracle that it was only a couple hundred injured and not a couple thousand. Whilst the bomb did not cause any human fatalities, the sky bridge, Marks and Spencer and surrounding buildings were all destroyed. In terms of damage, it is estimated that by 2015 reparations have exceeded £1 billion pounds. It was actually the shattered glass and falling debris, rather than the bomb itself, which was responsible for many of the injuries suffered. A few days after the bombing the IRA took responsibility for the crime, although stating that it regretted injuring civilians.
What is perhaps the most troubling thing of all in the 1996 Manchester bombing was the fact that although the IRA admitted responsibility, no individuals were ever charged with the crime. However, both the investigation and attempted trials were poorly conducted leading to widespread criticism of the Greater Manchester Police, who, in 2006, admitted that it was unlikely that anyone would ever be charged with the bombing.
Eventually Manchester recovered and was repaired to look like the Manchester known so well today. In terms of memorials, the most famous and long lasting is the post box that survived the 1996 bombing. Added to it was a plaque that reads: ‘This postbox remained standing almost undamaged on June 15th 1996 when this area was devastated by a bomb. The box was removed during the rebuilding of the city centre and was returned to its original site onNovember 22nd 1999.’
Ultimately the IRA’s troubling connection with Manchester would come to an end with both the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought stability to Northern Ireland and the disbanding of the Provisional IRA in 2005. Whilst the safety of Manchester from the PIRA may now be secured, the history between them is unforgettable and acts as a poignant reminder of how far relations have progressed.