List of bombings during the Troubles


This is a list of notable bombings related to the Northern Ireland "Troubles" and their aftermath. It includes bombings that took place in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Great Britain since 1968. During the conflict, there were at least 10,000 bomb attacks in Northern Ireland alone.

1969

5 August - RTÉ Studio bombing: The Ulster Volunteer Force detonated a bomb at Raidió Teilifís Éireann headquarters in Donnybrook, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, causing significant damage.

1970

11 August1970 Crossmaglen bombing: Two Royal Ulster Constabulary officers were killed by a booby-trap car bomb exploded in Crossmaglen, County Armagh. They were the first RUC victims of the IRA.

1971

2 NovemberRed Lion Pub bombing: Three Protestant civilians were killed and dozens injured by an IRA bomb attack on a Protestant bar on Ormeau Road, Belfast.
  • 4 DecemberMcGurk's Bar bombing: There were 15 civilians killed and 17 injured by a UVF bomb attack on a Catholic bar in Belfast.
  • 11 December1971 Balmoral Furniture Company bombing: Three Protestant civilians—two of them children—and a Roman Catholic civilian were killed. 19 people were injured in the attack. No group claimed credit for the attack but it was believed to have been carried out by the IRA.

1972

  • 22 FebruaryAldershot bombing: Seven people were killed by an Official IRA bomb at Aldershot Barracks in England, thought to be in retaliation for Bloody Sunday. Six of those killed were female ancillary workers and the seventh was a Roman Catholic military chaplain.
  • 4 MarchAbercorn Restaurant bombing: A bomb exploded without warning in the Abercorn restaurant on Castle Lane, Belfast. Two were killed and another 130 were injured.
  • 23 MarchDonegall Street bombing: The IRA detonated a massive car bomb in Lower Donegall Street in Belfast's city centre. Seven people were killed in the explosion, including two members of the RUC. 148 people were injured.
  • 21 JulyBloody Friday: The IRA exploded 35 bombs across Northern Ireland, and three large car bombs exploded in Derry, causing no injuries. The Belfast–Dublin train line was also bombed. The IRA detonated 22 bombs in Belfast's city center; nine people were killed from two bombs while 130 were injured.
  • 31 JulyClaudy bombing: Nine civilians were killed by a car bomb in Claudy, County Londonderry. No group has claimed responsibility, though the IRA was suspected.
  • 22 AugustNewry customs bombing: A bomb planted by the IRA detonated prematurely at a customs office in Newry. Three IRA members killed six civilians and themselves in the explosion.
  • 14 SeptemberImperial Hotel bombing 1972: The UVF detonated a car bomb outside a hotel near Antrim Road, Belfast, which killed three people and injured 50 others. 91-year-old Martha Smilie, a Protestant civilian, was the oldest person killed during the Troubles.
  • 31 OctoberBenny's Bar bombing: The UDA exploded a bomb outside a pub in Belfast, killing two Catholic children and injuring 12 people.
  • 1 December1972 and 1973 Dublin bombings: Two civilians were killed and 127 were injured by two Ulster loyalist car bombs in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
  • 28 DecemberBelturbet bombing: Loyalist paramilitaries exploded a bomb in Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland, which killed two teenagers and injured 8 other people, at the same time a bomb exploded in Clones, County Monaghan, injuring two other people.

1973

1974

1975

1976

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

  • 8 NovemberRemembrance Day bombing: 11 civilians were killed and sixty-three injured by an IRA bomb during a Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. One of those killed was Marie Wilson; in a BBC interview, her father Gordon expressed forgiveness towards his daughter's killer, and asked Loyalists not to seek revenge. He became a leading peace campaigner and was later elected to the Irish Senate. He died in 1995.

1988

  • 15 JuneLisburn van bombing: Six off-duty British soldiers were killed by an IRA bomb on their minibus in Lisburn.
  • 23 July – Robert James Hanna, his wife Maureen Patricia Hanna, and their son David were killed and 3 people were left injured in Killean, County Armagh after a 1,000 lb bomb exploded upon their Jeep Shogun passing by. The roadside bomb was thought to be intended for High Court Judge Eoin Higgins. The Provisional IRA issued a statement after the attack claiming responsibility, and going on to describe the Hanna's as "Unfortunate victims of mistaken identity", adding that "This bomb, which was to be detonated by remote control, exploded prematurely, tragically killing three civilians."
  • 1 AugustInglis Barracks bombing: A British soldier was killed and another nine injured when the IRA detonated a time bomb outside Inglis Barracks in Mill Hill, London.
  • 20 AugustBallygawley bus bombing: eight British soldiers were killed and 28 wounded by an IRA roadside bomb near Ballygawley.

1989

1990

  • 25 JuneCarlton Club bombing: A bomb exploded at the Carlton Club in London, injuring 20 people. Donald Kaberry died of his injuries on 13 March 1991.
  • 20 July – The IRA bombed the London Stock Exchange.
  • 30 July – Conservative MP Ian Gow was killed by a car bomb outside his house near Eastbourne.
  • 6 SeptemberRFA Fort Victoria bombing: The IRA planted two bombs aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment ship RFA Fort Victoria. One of them exploded, disabling the ship that had been constructed in Belfast and launched some weeks before. The second bomb failed to go off and was found and defused 15 days later.
  • 24 October – The IRA delivered three proxy bombs to British Army checkpoints. Three men were tied into cars loaded with explosives and ordered to drive to each checkpoint. Each bomb was remotely detonated. The first exploded at a checkpoint in Coshquin, killing the driver and five soldiers; the second exploded at a checkpoint in Killean, with the driver narrowly escaping and a soldier killed; and the third failed to detonate.

1991

1992

  • 17 JanuaryTeebane bombing: A roadside bomb detonated by the IRA destroyed a van and killed eight construction workers on their way back from Lisanelly British Army barracks in Omagh, County Tyrone, where they were making repairs. Another eight were wounded.
  • 10 AprilBaltic Exchange bombing: A van loaded with one ton of home-made explosives went off outside the building of the Baltic Exchange company, at 30 St Mary Axe, London, killing three people and injuring another 91. The bomb caused £800 million worth of damage. Three hours later, a similar sized bomb exploded at the junction of the M1 and the North Circular Road at Staples Corner in north London, causing substantial damage but no injuries. Both bombs were placed in vans and were home-made rather than Semtex; each weighed several hundred pounds.
  • 1 MayAttack on Cloghoge checkpoint: The IRA used a modified van that ran on railway tracks to launch an unconventional bomb attack on a British Army checkpoint in South Armagh. The checkpoint was obliterated when the 1,000 kg bomb exploded, killing one soldier and injuring 23.
  • 12 May1992 Coalisland riots: After a small IRA bomb attack on a British Army patrol in the village of Cappagh, in which a paratrooper lost both legs, British soldiers raided two public houses and caused considerable damage in the nearby town of Coalisland. Five days later, the conflict became a fist-fight between soldiers and local inhabitants. Shortly thereafter, another group of British paratroopers arrived and fired on a crowd of civilians and injured seven. Two soldiers were hospitalized, communication equipment was shattered and a rifle and a GPMG were stolen.
  • 19 SeptemberForensic Science Laboratory bombing: The IRA detonated a 3,700 lb bomb at the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory in south Belfast. The laboratory was obliterated, 700 houses were damaged, and 20 people were injured. 490 owners and occupiers claimed damages.

1993

  • 20 MarchWarrington bombings: after a vague telephoned warning, the IRA detonated two bombs in Cheshire, England. Two children were killed and 56 people were wounded. There were widespread protests in Britain and the Republic of Ireland following the deaths.
  • 03 April – London bombings: after telephoned warnings, the IRA detonated two bombs on two separate trains in London, England. One of these was the first IRA bombs placed on a mainline train in England.
  • 24 April1993 Bishopsgate bombing: After a telephoned warning, the IRA detonated a large bomb in Bishopsgate, London. It killed one civilian, wounded 30 others, and caused an estimated £350 million in damage.
  • 2 October1993 Finchley Road bombings: Three IRA time bombs exploded on Finchley Road in north London.
  • 23 OctoberShankill Road bombing: eight civilians, one UDA member, and one IRA member were killed, and another IRA member was injured when an IRA bomb prematurely exploded at a fish shop on Shankill Road, Belfast.

1994

  • 5 January – Two members of the Irish Army bomb disposal unit were injured when a parcel bomb sent by the UVF to the Sinn Féin offices in Dublin exploded during examination at the Cathal Brugha Barracks.
  • 24 January – Incendiary devices that had been planted by the UFF were found at a school in Dundalk in County Louth and at a postal sorting office in Dublin.
  • 9–13 MarchHeathrow mortar attacks: On 9, 11, and 13 March, the IRA fired improvised mortar bombs on to the runway at Heathrow Airport. There were no deaths or injuries.
  • 20 April – The Provisional IRA Derry Brigade fired a mortar bomb at a RUC Land Rover, killing one RUC officer and injuring two others.
  • 14 May – the IRA detonated an explosive device next to a British Army sangar at a permanent vehicle checkpoint in Castleblaney Road, Keady, County Armagh. One British soldier was killed and another wounded.
  • 29 July – More than 40 people were injured when the IRA fired three mortar bombs into the Newry RUC base. 30 civilians, seven RUC officers and three British soldiers were among those injured.
  • 13 August Two bombs were planted in bags placed on bicycles in Brighton and Bognor Regis. The Bognor one detonated damaging shops but no casualties; the Brighton one was defused.
  • 12 September1994 Dublin-Belfast train bombing: The UVF planted a bomb on the Belfast-Dublin train. At Connolly station, the bomb only partially exploded, slightly injuring two women.
  • 19 December - The Continuity IRA detonated a semtex bomb in a furniture store in Enniskillen. This was the first action carried out by the CIRA.

1996

1998

1999

2001