Video de Newspaper report the day after
LISBURN FUN RUN 16 JUNE 1988
QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING AFTER BLAST
As a massive hunt was launched today for the IRA unit which murdered six soldiers in Lisburn, the inquiry team faced four key questions about the outrage
An Army spokesman would only say that a full investigation was being carried out into all aspects of last nights bomb attack But security and political leaders were demanding to know
* How were the IRA able to identify an unmarked van as an army vehicle?
* How did the bomber breach security in the town which houses Army HQ at a time when thousands of people were watching a charity event?
* Was the van left unattended while the fun run was in progress?
* Will soldiers now face a blanket ban on taking part in civilian events everywhere in Northern Ireland?
The IRA revealed today seven pounds of high explosives, believed to be Czech made semtex, was used in the Lisburn bomb All six of the dead soldiers have now been positively identified, but their names will not be released until relatives have been informed An Army spokesman said that all the victims had been based in the Londonderry area, but he could not reveal their ranks or regiments at this stage
An RUC reservist remained in hospital today after being caught in the blast His condition was said to be satisfactory Eight other people, including a two-year-old boy and an 80 year old man, were discharged last night after being treated for cuts and shock All six of the dead soldiers had taken part in the annual charity fun run through the streets of Lisburn, organised by the local Borough Council
MARATHON
However, less than two months ago off-duty troops were banned from running the Belfast marathon The decision was taken because part of the marathon route went through sensitive areas in the west of the city At that time the Army said The involvement of soldiers in any public of off-duty activity will obviously take into account current security considerations, which are constantly kept under review
The area around Market Square in Lisburn remained sealed off as forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of the scene
The savage murder of six soldiers left Lisburn, Ulster's main garrison town, shattered and inconsolable today The wreckage of the Transit van blown to pieces by the IRA's booby trap bomb lay scattered in Market Place Detectives picked through the rubble and shop-keepers swept up broken glass and debris inside the cordoned off area
The entire windscreen of the van incredibly was lying on the 30ft high roof of the Northern Bank 50 yards away, after being blown there from the power of the blast At the time of the blast, flying shards of metal even cut deep into cylinders in a nearby store, almost causing further mayhem
Today two girls from a local firm walked towards the scene of the provinces latest mass murder They carried with them a huge bouquet of roses bearing the simple message From the members of the community, with deepest sympathy
They did not wish to be named It was a spontaneous gesture by people still numbed with shock and disbelief They could find no words to express their feeling
provisional irish republican army british fun run lisburn bombing royal ulster constabulary tom king cemtex 1988
