British authorities arrest suspect in 1996 Manchester IRA bombing
British authorities have arrested a suspect believed to have ties to the 1996 bombing in Manchester, England, carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army that wounded over 250, according to police.
The man was detained at Birmingham Airport on Thursday and is being questioned by Counter Terrorism Policing for the North West, the Greater Manchester Police announced. In the 20-plus years since the massive bombing, no one has been arrested, the BBC reported.
“We have always been committed to holding those responsible for the attack to account and bringing them to justice and have been reinvestigating for several years; with a team of dedicated detectives re-examining the original case files and pursuing new lines of inquiry,” said Andrew Meeks, the head of Investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, in a statement.
Although no one died in the colossal blast on June 15, 1996, it was one of the most powerful bombs detonated on the British mainland since World War II, the BBC reported. Officials did not elaborate on the exact connections they believe the suspect had to the bombing.
The attack took place on Corporation Street in the center of Manchester before a Euro 96 match between England and Scotland was set to begin later in the day, per the report. Due to the soccer game, thousands of people had congregated near the city center and were later evacuated.
Since arresting the suspect, officials have been scrambling to contact the families of the victims affected by the 1996 terrorist attack.
“Following the arrest, we have contacted individuals who were victims of this horrific attack to ensure that they’re updated, as we know for many people this will bring back memories of that terrible day and we are doing all we can to support our communities and those who were affected,” Meeks said.
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Over recent decades, particularly in the late 1960s and 1990s, the IRA deployed guerrilla warfare tactics against the United Kingdom as part of its quest to make all of Ireland free from British rule. Currently, Northern Ireland is ruled by the U.K., while the Irish Republic is independent.
The U.K. has deemed the IRA, which is made up of multiple groups, a terrorist organization.
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