Irish Republican News · October 14, 2011

Bomb strikes Derry’s ‘UK culture’ headquarters

The ‘UK City of Culture’ offices in the centre of Derry was badly damaged on Wednesday night by a small but powerful ‘Real IRA’ bomb.

No one was injured in the blast, which shattered the building’s exterior and shattered windows in the Guildhall area. The PSNI police said it had been aware of the device for over an hour before it exploded, and described it as “clandestine” and “crude”.

“They are not made by sophisticated manufacturing processes,” local PSNI chief Stephen Martin said.

The naming of Derry as the inaugural United Kingdom City of Culture in 2013 has proven highly controversial, with locals viewing the move as an attempt to normalise British rule in the overwhelmingly nationalist city.

The organisation’s office was targeted in January by a smaller device, also linked to the Real IRA.

The SDLP MP for Derry, Mark Durkan, said people in the city opposed the attack.

“Derry is a city with many challenges and with many difficulties. But the City of Culture is one of the opportunities we have.

“It has been strongly supported across our city, not just for the positive ongoing work to make it a memorable and successful year for Derry, but for the legacy that it will create long after 2013 as a springboard for future investment here.”

Sinn Fein assembly member Raymond McCartney urged those involved to identify themselves and explain their actions.

McCartney said: “Such attacks are futile and will achieve nothing other than to disrupt the lives of people in Derry.”

ALERT

Last weekend, a bomb alert also disrupted a British military parade and display which took place off the Lisburn Road in south Belfast.

Amid heavy security and despite republican opposition, hundreds of British soldiers took part in the ‘homecoming’ event, described by eirigi as “an insult to nationalists” and a further element of the normalisation agenda.

A ‘ring of steel’ had been set up around the King’s Hall in Balmoral, and the event took place following a brief delay.

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