Meibion Glyndŵr

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sons of Glyndŵr
Meibion Glyndŵr
Dates of operation1979–1992
Active regionsWales
IdeologyAnticolonialism
Anti-British sentiment
Anti-capitalism
Welsh nationalism
Welsh independence

Meibion Glyndŵr (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈməibjɔn ɡlɨnˈduːr], also known by its translation Sons of Glyndŵr) was a protest group linked to arson of English-owned holiday homes in Wales.[1] They were formed in response to the housing crisis in Wales precipitated by large numbers of houses being bought by wealthy English people for use as holiday homes, pushing up house prices beyond the means of many locals.[1] They were responsible for setting fire to English-owned propierties in Wales from 1979 to the mid-1990s, and only confirm an arrest.[1][2][3]

History[edit]

The group first came to prominence in 1979 after the Welsh devolution referendum.[1][4] In the first wave of attacks, eight English-owned holiday homes were destroyed within the space of a month.[1][2] In 1980, Welsh police carried out a series of raids in Operation Tân ("fire") in an effort to find the culprits.[1] As part of the operation, Welsh nationalist and publisher Robat Gruffudd and his wife, Enid, were arrested and interrogated.[2][1] The police were not able to find any evidence of the Gruffudds' involvement in the arson and released them; they were also compensated for their time.[4][1] Within the next ten years around 220 properties were damaged by the campaign.[5] It peaked in the late 1980s with the targeting of Conservative MPs' homes with letter bombs, most notably David Hunt, the then Welsh secretary, who was targeted in 1990.[1]

Four separate movements claimed responsibility for the bombings: Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru ("movement to defend Wales"), Cadwyr Cymru ("keepers of Wales"), Meibion Glyndŵr, and the Welsh Army for the Workers Republic (WAWR), whose attacks were on political targets in the early 1980s.[citation needed] Meibion Glyndŵr was the only group to have any claim to long-term success, although since the mid-1990s the group has been inactive, and Welsh nationalist violence has ceased, at least on an organisational level.[citation needed] Letters claiming responsibility for attacks were signed "Rhys Gethin", in homage to one of Owain Glyndŵr's most prominent followers.[6]

A reinvestigation into postal bombings led to the conviction of Sion Aubrey Roberts in 1993.[1][5] Roberts was sentenced to 12 years but was released after serving 8 years.[1] He has maintained his innocence while expressing sympathy for Meibion Glyndŵr's cause.[1] A Plaid Cymru member of parliament, Elfyn Llwyd, speculated that the group was an MI5 front.[5]

Armed campaign[edit]

  • 1979–94: Meibion Glyndŵr fire-bomb around 220 English-owned homes.[2][7]
  • 18 July 1980: Welsh militants firebombed the home of Welsh Secretary of State Nicholas Edwards, in his rest house in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.[7][8] In the same day, a Conservative Party in Cardiff was firebombed by the group.[9]
  • 26 October 1981: An improvised device in an army recruiting office was defused in Pontypridd, prior to a visit by the Prince of Wales.[10][11] Two days later other bomb was defused by authorities.[12]
  • 28 June 1987: Welsh extremist left two improvised devices in Abergele and Porthmadog[13][14]
  • 1988–89: Meibion Glyndŵr declared that "every white settler is a target". The group also placed incendiary bombs in Conservative Party offices in London and estate agents' offices in London,[15] Liverpool, Sutton Coldfield, Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Llandeilo.[16][17][18]
  • 18 March 1989; A series of arson attacks took place in Sutton Coldfield, Haverfordwest, Liverpool and London.[19][20][21][22]
  • 22 October 1989; A new ring of arson attacks this time focusing on London.[23][24][25]
  • 1990: Poet and Anglican priest R. S. Thomas calls for a campaign to deface English-owned homes.[citation needed]
  • 20–21 June 1990: Four letter bombs, two send to the Secretary of State for Wales and the Member of Parliament for Pembroke at the House of Commons (one of the letters had been slightly wound a woman), one to the Secretary of State for Wales David Hunt, and the last to Nicholas Bennett, both defused.[26][27]
  • 1993: Sion Aubrey Roberts, a member of Meibion Glyndŵr, was jailed for twelve years for sending letter bombs to Conservative politicians.[1][5]

Books[edit]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jones, Branwen (12 December 2021). "The story of Meibion Glyndwr and the rise of the nationalist movement". CymruOnline. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "The story of Meibion Glyndwr: The politics, the cause and the unsolved crimes told by the people behind the nationalist movement". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Police 'should close case' on Meibion Glyndwr arsons". BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Clashes Over Welsh Language Reflect Deeper Struggle". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "MP's theory over cottage burnings". BBC News. 10 December 2004. Archived from the original on 25 March 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  6. ^ Brooke, Nick (2018). "The Dragon Stirs: Nationalist Terrorism in Wales". Terrorism and nationalism in the United Kingdom : the absence of noise. Cham, Switzerland. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-3-319-76541-9. OCLC 1031999502.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ a b "Second homes: Meibion Glyndwr firebomber admits 1980s attacks". BBC News. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  8. ^ "GTD ID:198007180002". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  9. ^ "GTD ID:198007180003". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Bomb defused in Pontypridd". British Universities Film & Video Council. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  11. ^ "GTD ID:198110260007". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  12. ^ "GTD ID:198110280006". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  13. ^ "GTD ID:198706280002". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  14. ^ "GTD ID:198706280001". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  15. ^ "GTD ID:198811290008". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  16. ^ "GTD ID:198902240001". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  17. ^ "GTD ID:198902240002". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Shadow of Ulster in the Welsh valleys – archive, 1989". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  19. ^ "GTD ID:198903180003". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  20. ^ "GTD ID:198903180004". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  21. ^ "GTD ID:198903180005". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  22. ^ "GTD ID:198903180006". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  23. ^ "GTD ID:198910220006". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  24. ^ "GTD ID:198910220007". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  25. ^ "GTD ID:198910220008". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Westminster and Gwynedd letter bombs linked to 'Welsh extremists'". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Suspicion fell on 'Welsh extremists' as cabinet discussed letter bomb campaign". Wales Online. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

External links[edit]