1983 Harrods bombing
| Harrods bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, London, United Kingdom |
| Date | December 17, 1983 13:21 – (UTC) |
| Target | Harrods Department Store |
Attack type | car bomb |
| Deaths | 6 (inc. 3 police officers) |
| Injured | 90 |
| Perpetrators | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
The Harrods Bombing was a car-bomb attack carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) outside Harrods Department Store, London on December 17 1983 in which six people were killed.
The car bomb
A warning of the bomb came when a man using an IRA code word[1] telephoned the central London branch of the Samaritans organisation at 12:44. The caller said there were bombs inside and outside Harrods specifying the registration number of the car the device was in, but not its make or colour.[1] Four police officers in a car, a dog handler, and an officer on foot approached the car when the bomb went off.[1] The police car absorbed much of the blast, probably reducing other casualties.[1] Six people were killed, three passers-by (including one citizen of the United States), and three Metropolitan Police officers.[2][3] Those killed were: Philip Geddes (journalist, 24), Kenneth Salvesen (28), Jasmine Cochrane-Patrick (25), Police sergeant Noel Lane (28), and Police constable Jane Arbuthnot (22). Police inspector Stephen Dodd (34) was fatally injured and died 24 December.[2] Police constable Jon Gordon survived, but lost both legs and part of a hand in the blast. The PIRA claimed that the bomb had not been authorised by them. However Leon Brittan, the Home Secretary, commented, "The nature of a terrorist organisation is that those in it are not under disciplined control.[1]
Details of the bomb
The bomb contained between 25 and 30 lb (14 kg). of explosives. It was detonated by a timing device and not by remote control, as previously suspected. The device was left in a 1972 blue Austin 1300 GT four door saloon with a black vinyl roof, registration KFP 252K — which was subsequently blown onto the roof of a nearby five-story building.[1]
Second bomb warning
A second warning call was made by the IRA to authorities at the time of the first explosion. It was stated that a bomb was placed in the C&A department store on the east side of Oxford Street, London. Police tried to clear the area crowded with shoppers and cordoned it off but this claim was later found to be false.[4]
Memorials
A memorial that marks the spot where the three police officers were killed is located on the side of Harrods at Hans Crescent.[5]
Philip Geddes, an Oxford graduate and journalist was one of those killed. In his honour annual prizes are awarded to aspiring journalists attending Oxford University. Also, every year the Philip Geddes Memorial Lecture on the theme of the future of journalism is given by a leading journalist.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bomb unauthorised says IRA The Guardian 19 December 1983
- ^ a b Sutton Index of Deaths CAIN Web Service (Conflict Archive on the Internet)
- ^ Northern Ireland: Thatcher letter to Reagan (outrage at Harrods IRA bomb) Margaret Thatcher Foundation website
- ^ On this Day BBC Report BBC website
- ^ Police City Themes London
- ^ Prize money for students rises to £2,500 Holdthefrontpage
- ^ PHILIP GEDDES MEMORIAL PRIZES 2005 Oxford University Gazette
External links
See also
- Chronology of the Northern Ireland Troubles
- Chronology of Provisional IRA Actions
- List of terrorist incidents in London
