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photograph 49 of 96

Belfast, Northern Ireland. 1986

This was a controlled explosion. A suspect car was found behind an abandoned factory that was regularly patrolled by the troops. Bomb disposal managed to attach a small amount of TNT to the device ('The Wheel Barrow' wouldn't work on this device) that was found in the boot of the car (imagine having to open the boot of the car; I'd need Pampers on). Then at a safe distance the TNT was detonated which in turn set the bomb off. The bomb was a beer keg full of explosives and ended up on the roof of the seven storey factory. I remember this day because we had over 35 bomb warnings of which only two were for real. It still meant that they all had to be treated as real and kept the regiments in Belfast busy for a solid 24 hours. And why, because word was leaked that the press were in town and that a VIP was visiting. Deadly whispers eh! (Paul Crispin)

© Paul Crispin
Permission is granted for personal use and for academic purposes in schools or colleges. Anyone wishing to use any photograph commercially should first contact the photographer Paul Crispin.