| West Ham station attack | |
|---|---|
| Part ofthe Troubles | |
 A platform at the station in 1986 | |
 Interactive map of West Ham station attack | |
| Location | West Ham, London, United Kingdom |
| Date | 15 March 1976 4:45 pm (UTC) |
Attack type | Bombing andshooting |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 9 |
| Perpetrator | Adrian Vincent Donnelly (Provisional IRA) |
TheWest Ham station attack was a bombing and shooting attack atWest Ham station in eastLondon on 15 March 1976. A 5 lb (2.3 kg) bomb on aMetropolitan line train exploded prematurely in the front carriage of the train, injuring seven passengers. The bomb detonated prior to reaching theCity of London, where it was thought the intended target wasLiverpool Street station at rush hour.[1][2] Adrian Vincent Donnelly, aProvisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member, then shotPost Office engineer Peter Chalk in the chest, and killed train driver Julius Stephen, who had attempted to catch him.[3] Donnelly exited the station to the street and threatened people with hisrevolver beforePC Raymond Kiff caught up with him. Shouting "YouEnglishbastards!", Donnelly shot himself in the chest, but he survived and was apprehended by Kiff.[4][5]
Adrian Vincent Donnelly, 36 at the time, was originally fromCastlefin,County Donegal, in theRepublic of Ireland but lived in London from 1971.[citation needed] He was part of anactive service unit involved in planting 16 bombs. In 1977 at theOld Bailey, he was convicted ofmurder andattempted murder. He was sentenced tolife imprisonment byMr Justice Croom-Johnson with a minimum of 30 years.[6] He was released after 21 years in August 1998 as one of the earliest beneficiaries of theGood Friday Agreement's prisoner release scheme.[7] He died on 25 August 2019.[8]
Eleven days prior, an IRA bombhad exploded in a train atCannon Street station. The day after the West Ham attack, a bomb on a train atWood Green tube station exploded, injuring a man.[9] On 17 March, a 9 lb (4.1 kg) bomb was discovered in a train atNeasden Depot.[10] After these events,London Transport launched a security operation and assigned 1,000 plainclothed policemen on theLondon Underground system.[11]
An appeal to raise money was launched for the family of the driver of the train, Julius Stephen, who left behind awidow and a family. £17,000 had been raised by August 1976.[12]
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‡ indicates railway accidents and incidents resulting in at least 20 fatalities § indicates the deadliest railway accident in British history 1815–1899   2000–present | |
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