Osnabrück mortar attack
Encyclopedia
The Osnabrück mortar attack was an improvised mortar attack carried out by a Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA) unit based in mainland Europe on 28 June 1996 against the Quebec British Army
barracks at Osnabrück
inside the largest British military garrison then deployed in Germany
.
, in particular the British Government and the IRA, had accepted by the early 1990s that they couldn't resolve the conflict by force. The IRA, through its political wing, Sinn Féin
, foresaw that greater progress towards republican objectives might be achieved by negotiation. In this context, the IRA declared a "permanent cessation" of hostilities on 31 August 1994.
The IRA eventually called off this ceasefire on 9 February 1996 because of its dissatisfaction with the lack of progress of the peace talks. They marked the end of the truce by detonating a truck bomb at Canary Wharf
in London
, which caused the deaths of two civilians and massive damage to property. In early June 1996, another truck bomb devastated Manchester
city centre.
The Provisional IRA military activities of 1996–1997 were used to gain leverage in negotiations with the British government during the period. Whereas in 1994–95, the British Conservative Party
government had refused to enter public talks with Sinn Féin
until the IRA had given up its weapons, the Labour Party
government in power by 1997 was prepared to include Sinn Féin in peace talks before IRA decommissioning. This precondition was officially dropped in June 1997.
van. The van had been modified by a former British Army engineer, Michael Dickson, who built the launch platform and aimed the tubes towards the barrracks. The devices contained more than 180 lb (81.64 kg) of explosive each one. The tubes were screwed to the floor of the van and masked with tarpaulins. Two of the shells fell short of the perimeter fence and failed to explode, but the third went off 20 yards (18.3 mt) inside the base, leaving a crater near a petrol pump. No fire was ignited, but several buildings, cars and armoured vehicles were damaged by the blast. The destruction was described as 'substantial'. There were 150 people inside the facility at the time, but none was injured. An explosive charge was left in the vehicle with the intention of destroy evidence, but the intact van's plates allowed to trace it to Yorkshire
.
The IRA unit was composed of five members, two of them women, who had rented a holliday home in northern Germany where they built the mortar launchers. Dickson later claimed claimed at his trial that he had no experience in handling explosives during his career in the British Army. Dickson had served in several British bases in Germany, but never in Northern Ireland. Róisín McAliskey
, daughter of republican activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey
, and Jimmy Corrie were also suspected of being members of the cell. The aim of the IRA was to establish a permanent presence in mainland Europe, rather than cause massive loss of life.
, then prime minister of the United Kingdom, said that the assault showed how the IRA and Sinn Féin were isolating themselves from the peace process. John Bruton
, then Taioseach of the Republic of Ireland
, dubbed the IRA strategy as 'utterly pointless'.
Michael Dickson was arrested in December 2002 on an international arrest warrant relating to the 1996 mortar attack whilst he was driving a lorry-load of contraband
cigarettes and tobacco at Ruzyne Airport
in the Czech Republic
. He was convicted under German law to six and a half years for attempted murder
and setting off an explosion. He served his sentence in Celle
maximum security prison in Germany, and was released after serving 27 months of his sentence. Róisin McAliskey battled successfully against the extradition warrant issued by the German Justice.
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA) unit based in mainland Europe on 28 June 1996 against the Quebec British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
barracks at Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
inside the largest British military garrison then deployed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Background
The main sides of The TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, in particular the British Government and the IRA, had accepted by the early 1990s that they couldn't resolve the conflict by force. The IRA, through its political wing, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, foresaw that greater progress towards republican objectives might be achieved by negotiation. In this context, the IRA declared a "permanent cessation" of hostilities on 31 August 1994.
The IRA eventually called off this ceasefire on 9 February 1996 because of its dissatisfaction with the lack of progress of the peace talks. They marked the end of the truce by detonating a truck bomb at Canary Wharf
1996 Docklands bombing
The Docklands bombing occurred on 9 February 1996. It was conducted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army and brought an end to their seventeen-month ceasefire...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which caused the deaths of two civilians and massive damage to property. In early June 1996, another truck bomb devastated Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
city centre.
The Provisional IRA military activities of 1996–1997 were used to gain leverage in negotiations with the British government during the period. Whereas in 1994–95, the British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government had refused to enter public talks with Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
until the IRA had given up its weapons, the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government in power by 1997 was prepared to include Sinn Féin in peace talks before IRA decommissioning. This precondition was officially dropped in June 1997.
The attack
The attack was perpetrated at 18:50, local time, when three Mark 15 mortar bombs where launched from a Ford TransitFord Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
van. The van had been modified by a former British Army engineer, Michael Dickson, who built the launch platform and aimed the tubes towards the barrracks. The devices contained more than 180 lb (81.64 kg) of explosive each one. The tubes were screwed to the floor of the van and masked with tarpaulins. Two of the shells fell short of the perimeter fence and failed to explode, but the third went off 20 yards (18.3 mt) inside the base, leaving a crater near a petrol pump. No fire was ignited, but several buildings, cars and armoured vehicles were damaged by the blast. The destruction was described as 'substantial'. There were 150 people inside the facility at the time, but none was injured. An explosive charge was left in the vehicle with the intention of destroy evidence, but the intact van's plates allowed to trace it to Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
The IRA unit was composed of five members, two of them women, who had rented a holliday home in northern Germany where they built the mortar launchers. Dickson later claimed claimed at his trial that he had no experience in handling explosives during his career in the British Army. Dickson had served in several British bases in Germany, but never in Northern Ireland. Róisín McAliskey
Róisín McAliskey
Róisín Elizabeth McAliskey is an Irish political activist. She is the elder daughter of republican activists Bernadette and Michael McAliskey...
, daughter of republican activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey
Josephine Bernadette Devlin McAliskey , also known as Bernadette Devlin and Bernadette McAliskey, is a socialist republican political activist...
, and Jimmy Corrie were also suspected of being members of the cell. The aim of the IRA was to establish a permanent presence in mainland Europe, rather than cause massive loss of life.
Aftermath
John MajorJohn Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
, then prime minister of the United Kingdom, said that the assault showed how the IRA and Sinn Féin were isolating themselves from the peace process. John Bruton
John Bruton
John Gerard Bruton is an Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1994 to 1997. A minister under two taoisigh, Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald, Bruton held a number of the top posts in Irish government, including Minister for Finance , and Minister for Industry, Trade,...
, then Taioseach of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, dubbed the IRA strategy as 'utterly pointless'.
Michael Dickson was arrested in December 2002 on an international arrest warrant relating to the 1996 mortar attack whilst he was driving a lorry-load of contraband
Contraband
The word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold....
cigarettes and tobacco at Ruzyne Airport
Ruzyne International Airport
-Ruzyně today:Most flights depart Ruzyně Airport from the North Terminals . The South Terminals handle a few irregular flights, as well as VIP flights, special flights and small aircraft....
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He was convicted under German law to six and a half years for attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
and setting off an explosion. He served his sentence in Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
maximum security prison in Germany, and was released after serving 27 months of his sentence. Róisin McAliskey battled successfully against the extradition warrant issued by the German Justice.
See also
- Barrack busterBarrack busterBarrack buster is the colloquial name given to several improvised mortars, developed in the 1990s by the engineering group of the Provisional Irish Republican Army ....
- 1985 Newry mortar attack1985 Newry mortar attackThe 1985 Newry mortar attack was an attack carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on a Royal Ulster Constabulary station in Corry Square, Newry, Northern Ireland. The attack killed nine RUC officers.-Background:...
- Downing Street mortar attackDowning Street mortar attackThe Downing Street mortar attack was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on 10 Downing Street, London, the British Prime Minister John Major's official residence. The 7 February 1991 attack, an assassination attempt on Major and his War Cabinet who were meeting to discuss the...
- Crossmaglen mortar attack (1994)
- Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1990-1999)Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1990-1999)This is a chronology of activities by the Provisional Irish Republican Army , from 1990 to 1999. For actions before and after this period see Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions....