4. HYDE PARK BOMBING
During the Changing of the Guard at Hyde Park on the 20th July 1982, the PIRA detonated a nail bomb hidden in the back of a parked car. 4 members of the Blues and Royals were killed and several badly wounded, along with this 7 of the Horses they were mounted on were also killed or had to be euthanized due to their wounds. These unfortunate animals can be seen covered in the photo above.
Around 2 hours later a second bomb was detonated beneath a bandstand where 30 army bandsmen were performing pieces from the musical Oliver! to a crowd of over 120 people. 7 musicians were killed and the entirety of the remainder injured. 7 civilians were also injured, the number could have been higher yet the bomb contained no nails or metal to create fragmentation, presumably in an attempt to minimise civilian casualties.
One of the Rider’s horses survived the attack and was named ‘Horse of the Year’, following several television appearances. However the Rider himself, a man named Michael Pedersen, did not recover so well, committing suicide in September 2012 after killing his two children. Pedersen suffered debilitating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the bombing.
In claiming responsibility for the attack, the PIRA announced:
“The Irish people have sovereign and national rights which no task or occupational force can put down”
