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07/04/2011
Memorial Proposal Recalls Blitz Anniversary
A solemn monument to commemorate victims of the Belfast Blitz that began 70 years ago today will be located in a park beside St Anne's Cathedral.
Depending on a feasibility study, Belfast City Council is to back a proposal for the first civic Blitz memorial in the city.
That location saw some of the worst bombing but although St Anne's Cathedral was in the middle of the danger zone, it managed to escape any direct hits.
Almost 1,000 were killed and thousands more injured in two raids around Easter - with the first taking place seven decades ago today, on 7 April 1941 - and the second, much bigger raid bringing the greatest loss of life outside of the city of London.
The big raid was on Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 and saw 200 Luftwaffe bombers attacking Belfast, leaving around 100,000 people - of a total population of 425,000 - homeless.
Fifty-thousand houses, more than half the houses in the city, were damaged.
Eleven churches, two hospitals and two schools were destroyed.
But, the first deliberate raid took place on the night of April 7 and targeted the docks, but neighbouring residential areas were also hit.
Seventy years ago today, six Heinkel He111 bombers, from Kampfgruppe 26, flying at 7,000 feet, dropped incendiaries, high explosive and parachute-bombs.
Thirteen people lost their lives and a large factory floor for manufacturing the fuselages of Stirling bombers at Shorts in east Belfast was destroyed.
See: Home Front Blitz Anniversary Looms
(BMcC/GK)
Depending on a feasibility study, Belfast City Council is to back a proposal for the first civic Blitz memorial in the city.
That location saw some of the worst bombing but although St Anne's Cathedral was in the middle of the danger zone, it managed to escape any direct hits.
Almost 1,000 were killed and thousands more injured in two raids around Easter - with the first taking place seven decades ago today, on 7 April 1941 - and the second, much bigger raid bringing the greatest loss of life outside of the city of London.
The big raid was on Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 and saw 200 Luftwaffe bombers attacking Belfast, leaving around 100,000 people - of a total population of 425,000 - homeless.
Fifty-thousand houses, more than half the houses in the city, were damaged.
Eleven churches, two hospitals and two schools were destroyed.
But, the first deliberate raid took place on the night of April 7 and targeted the docks, but neighbouring residential areas were also hit.
Seventy years ago today, six Heinkel He111 bombers, from Kampfgruppe 26, flying at 7,000 feet, dropped incendiaries, high explosive and parachute-bombs.
Thirteen people lost their lives and a large factory floor for manufacturing the fuselages of Stirling bombers at Shorts in east Belfast was destroyed.
See: Home Front Blitz Anniversary Looms
(BMcC/GK)
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09 April 2003
Real IRA gang sentenced to 100 years in jail
Five men have been jailed for a total of 100 years for planning and subsequently launching a Real IRA bombing campaign in England.
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22 July 2002
Man charged with causing mainland explosions
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28 August 2001
Bomb alert causes chaos at Ballycastle Fair
A bomb with a timing unit, detonator and two cylinders of flammable liquid has been defused by Army Technical Officers in Ballycastle. The bomb had been abandoned in a white Ford Sierra in Castle Street. The car is believed to have been left at the scene in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The Castle Street area has now been re-opened.
Bomb alert causes chaos at Ballycastle Fair
A bomb with a timing unit, detonator and two cylinders of flammable liquid has been defused by Army Technical Officers in Ballycastle. The bomb had been abandoned in a white Ford Sierra in Castle Street. The car is believed to have been left at the scene in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The Castle Street area has now been re-opened.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
