Timeline of Terror Attacks and Developments- UK/London

  • Bloody Friday

    Twenty-plus IRA bombs explode in Belfast, leaving nine dead and 130 injured
  • IRA car bombing

    9 British Soldiers and 3 civilians were killed in a bomb attack on a British Army coach in Yorkshire, England.
  • IRA bombing in Birmingham

    IRA bombs two pubs in Birmingham, England that are known to be frequented by off-duty law enforcement. 21 killed and 182 injured
  • IRA bombings in Northern Ireland

    IRA bombing on ship kills 4, including Lord Mountbatten (target), a cousin of the Queen. Later the same day, another IRA bombing attack kills 18 British paratroopers in County Down, Northern Ireland.
  • USSR invades Afghanistan

  • Bombing at Harrods

    IRA bombs Harrods department store in London, killing nine and wounding 91.
  • IRA mortar attack

    IRA kills nine RUC police officers in mortar attack in Northern Ireland
  • IRA Bombing during Remembrance Day celebration

    Thirteen killed by IRA bomb during Remembrance Day celebration
  • IRA mortar attack at Prime Minister's residence

    Attack on No. 10 Downing Street; mortar rounds fired at Prime Minister John Major’s residence wound three; IRA responsible
  • IRA bombing in Manchester

    Car bomb in Manchester by IRA. Attack targeted the city's infrastructure and economy, not civilians; though 212 people injured.
  • Osama bin Laden issues declaration of war against the US and the West

  • The Good Friday Agreement is signed

    The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is signed by the British and Irish governments, coming to a consensus on the governing of Northern Ireland and putting an end to the violence.
  • Car bomb in Omagh

    Car bomb in Omagh, Northern Ireland; 31 killed and 220 injured. Carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army, a Provisional Irish Republican Army splinter group who opposed the IRA's ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement.
  • London Nail Bombings

    London Nail Bombings targeted at London’s black, South Asian and gay communities. Bomber, a Neo-Nazi and former member of the British Nationalist Party and the then Nationalist Socialist Movement, left 3 bombs over successive weekends.
  • Flight hijacked

    Ariana Afghan Air flight to London hijacked, hostages released unharmed.
  • British forces invade Afghanistan

    US and British forces invade Afghanistan to take down al-Qa’ida and the Taliban. UK enters as ally of US.
  • 7/7 Coordinated Attacks on London Transit System

    Series of coordinated suicide bombs targeting civilians on London’s public transit system. Four Islamist extremists separately detonated three bombs in quick succession aboard London Underground trains across the city and, later, a fourth on a double-decker bus. Fifty-two civilians were killed and over 700 more were injured in the attacks. Three of the bombers were British-born sons of Pakistani immigrants; other was a convert born in Jamaica. the country's first ever Islamist suicide attack.
  • UK withdraws from Afghanistan

    UK begins gradually withdrawing combat forces from Afghanistan, leaving forces there since in a training and advisory role based in Kabul and Helmand until 2021 withdrawal.
  • British forces join coalition to help Iraq defeat ISIS

    British forces join coalition to help Iraq defeat ISIS. In October, operation expands to Syria.
  • British Member of Parliament assassinated

    British Member of Parliament Jo Cox assassinated by white supremacist Neo-Nazi.
  • Car attack along Westminster Bridge

    Car driven into pedestrians on the pavement along the south side of Westminster Bridge, killing five and injuring 50. Perpetrator was Biritsh citizen who converted to Islam, had previously been investigated as terrorist threat. Likely acted alone.
  • Attack on Finsbury Park Mosque

    Car driven into crowd of Muslim worshippers leaving the Finsbury Park Mosque in London. Attacker acted alone, cited revenge against Muslims for London and Westminster attacks 1 died, 10 injured..
  • Bombing in London Underground

    ISIS responsible for bomb in London Underground, injuring 30.
  • Stabbing on London Bridge

    Attacker stabs people on London bridge killing 2 and injuring 3. Belonged to terrorist group inspired by al-Qa’ida.
  • Afghanistan Falls to the Taliban

  • UK withdraws last troops from Afghanistan

    UK withdraws all forces left in training and advisory roles based in Kabul and Helmand following fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.