The Troubles 23

sniper fired four shots at soldiers in an observation post Wednesday July 11th 1973 at the front of the hall. No one was injured and fire was Our men have been stood down – UVF not returned.

A battalion of the outlawed Ulster Volunteer force said it had stood its men down from active service and in Wednesday July 11th 1973 future will concentrate on promoting community House attacked projects. The headquarters staff officers of the 2nd Four shots were fired into the home of a Roman Battalion UVF, which operates in East Antrim held an Catholic family at Rushfield Avenue in the Ormeau all night meeting to discuss future tactics following the Road area. One bullet went through the upstairs Assembly elections. window while the others struck the brickwork at the front of the house. No one was injured.

Thursday 12th July 1973 Assassination victim is found in east Belfast Wednesday July 11th 1973 Detectives began the hunt for the killers of a young man Strabane blast believed to be in his 20’s who was found brutally Several people were treated for shock when a bomb assassinated in the east of the city. Two elderly women exploded in Abercorn Square, Strabane. A duffle bag made the grim find in the strongly Republican Seaforde containing a 30lb bomb was left in the Argosy, a Street area adjacent to St. Matthews Church. Police newsagent’s and confectionery shop. A customer and soldiers found the young mans body sprawled noticed the parcel and carried it into the street where it grotesquely in a back street alleyway. Marks on his exploded 30 minutes later after the area had been neck suggested he had been strangled. evacuated and sealed off.

Thursday 12th July 1973 Wednesday July 11th 1973 Fire bomb at bar Public house again bombed An incendiary type bomb damaged a bar at Lisburn’s For the second time in six months the Village Inn at market square. The device exploded at the rear of Killyclogher, Omagh, was damaged by a bomb. Two Neeson’s causing only slight damage. No one was armed men planted a suitcase bomb in the hallway and injured. before ordering staff and customers from the premises they gave a 10-minute warning. The bomb exploded Thursday 12th July 1973 20 minutes later and severely damaged the building but Rocket could have wrecked Bogside no one was injured.

The Army have revealed that an IRA rocket attack in Derry could have destroyed part of the city.

Wednesday July 11th 1973 This follows an IRA RPG7 rocket assault on the Army Exchange attacked post at the gasworks. Explosives experts claim that had A bomb blasted a new telephone exchange in Maghera the rocket struck the gasometer the resulting explosion but there was only slight damage. The exchange was would probably have destroyed the Bogside and many not manned at the time. other parts of the city. The rocket exploded on the perimeter fence and the tail fin hit the wall of the post Wednesday July 11th 1973 but failed to penetrate it. There were no injuries.

Lucky escape for British troops Soldiers narrowly escaped injury when a 100-200lb mine tore up the roadway in front of their vehicles in Thursday 12th July 1973 Castlederg.

12 people arrested in Antrim riot The Antrim riot began when a crowd of youths round a Wednesday July 11th 1973 bonfire at the Ballycraigy estate began smashing the Letter bomb made safe windows of Catholic Homes. One family was forced In Enniskillen, Miss Noreen Cooper, a solicitor in the to evacuate their home and police moved in and town, had a lucky escape when she opened a letter bomb attempted to disperse the crowd. Soldiers were called in her home at Algeo Drive. She was withdrawing a in after the mob grew larger and stoned the police. At book from inside it when she noticed something black one stage a low velocity shot was fired at a police vein the centre. She dropped it and called the police. They hicle but no one was injured. Twelve people were took the letter outside and it exploded. arrested.