On this day July 20, 1982, two deadly bombings carried out by the Irish Republican Army shook central London. The attacks took place in Hyde Park and Regent Park and targeted British military personnel during ceremonial duties. The first bomb exploded in Hyde Park as the Household Cavalry passed through on horseback, killing four soldiers and injuring many others. Several horses were also killed or severely wounded in the blast.
Later that day, a second bomb exploded under a bandstand in Regent Park where the Royal Green Jackets were performing a military concert. Four more soldiers were killed instantly and dozens of people nearby were injured by the explosion. In total, eight soldiers lost their lives and forty seven people were wounded in the attacks.
The bombings were part of the Provisional IRA’s ongoing campaign to pressure the British government over its involvement in Northern Ireland. The attacks stunned the United Kingdom and drew widespread international condemnation. Images of the aftermath, particularly the injured horses and scattered instruments in the park, left a lasting impression on the public.
80s insight: The Hyde Park and Regent Park bombings served as a harsh reminder that the 1980s were not just about pop culture and progress. Political violence still shaped the decade, leaving deep scars in places that were otherwise known for tradition and ceremony.
Later that day, a second bomb exploded under a bandstand in Regent Park where the Royal Green Jackets were performing a military concert. Four more soldiers were killed instantly and dozens of people nearby were injured by the explosion. In total, eight soldiers lost their lives and forty seven people were wounded in the attacks.
The bombings were part of the Provisional IRA’s ongoing campaign to pressure the British government over its involvement in Northern Ireland. The attacks stunned the United Kingdom and drew widespread international condemnation. Images of the aftermath, particularly the injured horses and scattered instruments in the park, left a lasting impression on the public.
80s insight: The Hyde Park and Regent Park bombings served as a harsh reminder that the 1980s were not just about pop culture and progress. Political violence still shaped the decade, leaving deep scars in places that were otherwise known for tradition and ceremony.
