| 1998 Banbridge bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part ofthe Troubles | |
  Banbridge Banbridge (Northern Ireland) | |
| Location | Banbridge, Northern Ireland |
| Date | 1 August 1998 (UTC) |
| Target | Unionist owned businesses |
Attack type | Car bomb |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 35 |
| Perpetrator | Real IRA |
The1998 Banbridge bombing was the explosion of acar bomb in the town ofBanbridge inCounty Down,Northern Ireland on 1 August 1998. Thirty-three civilians and twoRoyal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers were injured in the attack in a busy shopping street that was later claimed by theReal Irish Republican Army (RIRA), a dissidentIrish republican group.[1]
The bomb containing 500 lb (230 kg) of explosives was inside a redVauxhall Cavalier parked on Newry Street.[2] A 20-minute telephone warning was given allowing the police to clear the town centre and potentially avoiding many fatalities, although the warning was "inadequate" and still led to many injuries.[3] The bomb severely damaged the heart of the town and shops in the area, causing an estimated £3.5 million of damage.[4][5]
After the bombing, local residents, paramedics, and emergency services worked tirelessly to help the injured and clear the debris.[6]
At the time it was the most damaging bomb attack since the signing of theGood Friday Agreement in April. Two weeks later, the Real IRA would carry out theOmagh bombing. Shortly afterwards, they had a ceasefire.
The town was targeted previously that year by theContinuity IRA in an attempted car bomb on 6 January 1998, which was safely defused after a warning.[7] Major bombings also had occurred there in 1991 and 1982.
