On this day August 20 1988, tragedy struck in Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, when an IRA (Irish Republican Army) roadside bomb destroyed a military bus. The attack killed 8 British soldiers and left 28 others wounded.
The bombing occurred as the soldiers were returning to their base after leave. It was one of the deadliest single attacks on British troops during the Troubles, highlighting the ongoing violence and political turmoil that dominated Northern Ireland throughout the 1980s.
80s insight: This bombing was a stark reminder of the constant tension and conflict of the Troubles, a backdrop that shaped much of life in Ireland and the UK during the decade.
The bombing occurred as the soldiers were returning to their base after leave. It was one of the deadliest single attacks on British troops during the Troubles, highlighting the ongoing violence and political turmoil that dominated Northern Ireland throughout the 1980s.
80s insight: This bombing was a stark reminder of the constant tension and conflict of the Troubles, a backdrop that shaped much of life in Ireland and the UK during the decade.
