1993 Bournemouth bombing
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03:00 GMT – 04:30 GMT (UTC)
| 1993 Bournemouth bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Troubles | |
.jpg) | |
| Location | Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom |
| Date | 13 August 1993 03:00 GMT – 04:30 GMT (UTC) |
| Target | Bournemouth |
Attack type | Bomb |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | Unknown amount of minor injuries |
| Perpetrator | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
No. of participants | Unknown |
| Motive | The establishment of a republic, the end of British rule in Northern Ireland, and the reunification of Ireland |
| Charges | 0 |
On Friday 13 August 1993, 6 out of 7 explosive devices planted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), went off at locations within Bournemouth, Dorset, including shops and at the pier. Four devices were incendiary devices, whilst the other two were explosive devices. A larger explosive device, that was believed to have been able to destroy the pier, was located underneath the theatre on the pier and made safe by the British Army's bomb disposal team.
The bombings caused thousands of pounds worth of structural damage. There were no fatalities, but members of the public received minor injuries.
Nowhere in Dorset had been subject to a terrorist attack before.[1] The incident was the first and only terrorist incident in both Bournemouth and Dorset.[2] No warnings were given in relation to the devices. It was the first attack on mainland Britain since an attempt was made on a North Shields oil refinery and gas holder in Gateshead in June 1993.[3]
Bombs
Bomb types
The IRA's preferred weapon was the firebomb, with the devices timed to go off during the night, hoping that the emergency services will arrive after fires have started. This is why stores containing easily flammable items, such as soft furnishings and fabrics, are preferred targets. The first time that a firebomb was used in the England was in April 1991 at Preston railway station, where 20 were located within a holdall.[3]
The IRA planted five incendiary devices, as well as two explosive devices.
Bombings
7 explosive devices were planted around the vicinity of Bournemouth town centre. The devices went off at intervals during the early hours of Friday 13 August, between 03:00 GMT and 04:30 GMT.[2][4]
Two firebombs exploded in the basement of Maples furniture store, causing the most significant damage out of all the devices.[3]
Another incendiary device exploded in the Tracks clothing store, with another incendiary device exploding in the Waterstones book shop within the Bournemouth Arcade, an arcade dating back to 1866 that connects Old Christchurch Road and Gervis Place.[2]
Another incendiary device exploded in Renate's clothing store inside The Avenue shopping centre, located on Commercial Road.[2]
At approximately 04:30 GMT, an explosive device, that had been placed amongst a group of deckchairs on Bournemouth Pier, detonated, causing substantial damage to the west side of the pier.[2]
Unexploded device located
At approximately 09:00 GMT, police discovered an unexploded device under the pier theatre. An army bomb disposal team made the device safe. It was thought the device was strong enough that it could have destroyed the pier and was described as 'substantial'.[2][3]At the time, the device was under the theatre on the pier, Marc Camoletti's play Don't Dress for Dinner, was being performed, with 800 people in attendance.[3] The performance featured Les Dennis, Lionel Blair, Vicki Michelle, Mandy Perryment and Su Pollard. The cast later joked about their 'explosive' performance that night.[2]