The explosion was triggered off by an Army marksman firing at the bombs to cut the fuse connecting them. As the blast rocked the countryside for half a mile around, a fierce fire broke out in the engine, but the train appeared to stay on the tracks. The marksman had taken up his position near the train but was well protected. He fired carefully aimed shots at the fuse on the bombs, but on his ninth shot there was a sheet of flame followed by a heavy explosion. Observers more than 600 yards away felt their clothes plucked by the blast. It had been a long night for Army experts but even after the explosion they did not approach for fear of booby traps or landmines around the train. An elaborate operation was mounted against any attacks and no one was allowed near the empty train as it lay in the fogshrouded countryside.
petrol near Rosscommon. The four hostages, two young Dublin men and their Waterford girlfriends were released after a morning of terror.
Thursday 16th August 1973 Guns grabbed on raid on Eire barracks An armed gang, who held up part time soldiers at Waterford and took their guns, took hostages with them on a zigzag trail across the country.
Thursday 16th August 1973 Four Derry ambushes – but no hits Troops came under fire in four separate incidents in the Bogside and Creggan areas of Derry, but there were no casualties. Fire was returned on all four occasions but no hits were claimed. One shot was fired on a patrol in Bligh’s Lane and two shots at troops near the city cemetery. A patrol operating in the Cattle Market area had five shots fired at them and at about the same time a gunman fired four shots at the Bligh’s Lane post.
They were being hunted by Gardai, armed Special Branch and the Irish Army. Special cordons were thrown up in the west and north west of the country. The men had hijacked a second car taking its driver hostage at gunpoint, when the first vehicle ran out of
Thursday 16th August 1973 Funeral of reserve policeman The funeral of the 36 year-old reserve policeman, gunned down in Armagh, passed the furniture factory where he was shot dead on it’s way to Drumsollen Parish Churchyard, six miles from Armagh. William John McIlveen, a Protestant of Lisdown, Newry Road, Armagh, was assassinated about five minutes before he was due to go off security duty at Ulster Crown Corks on Cathedral Road. Since the killing the Roman Catholic owned factory, where bar fittings and furniture are manufactured, has been closed as a mark of respect.