Here it is, my latest attempt at a timeline. I have finished the first year, but depending on comments I may amend. It will include the respnse to the terror, the next decade of British political life and the revival of the Tories in Scotland(I thought about doing a new version of my Scots Tory revival timeline but this seems more interesting)..
Hope you enjoy.
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The worst part of it was the terrible stillness. The silence which momentarily hit the room after the explosion. The scene was one to behold. The rising smoke betraying the torment, the blood, the carnage within the cabinet room. The cabinet table, splintered into a thousand pieces exaggerated the evil work of the mortar. The dead lay, still, prostrate, silent, the still warm blood, escaping them being the only movement in their lifeless corpses.
The terrorist attack of 7th February claimed eleven lives. A further fifteen were so badly injured that they would either be permanently disabled, disfigured and in many cases both. Amongst the dead lay the Prime Minister John Major, the Chancellor Norman Lamont, the Home Secretary Ken Baker and the Defence Secretary Tom King. The Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, survived, despite losing the sight in one eye and his right leg, which had to be amputated. The corpse of Michael Howard, which took the impact of the blast was incinerated beyond recognition. He was identified by what remains there were left.
Other cabinet members killed included William Waldegrave, Michael Heseltine, John Gummer, David Hunt, Tony Newton and Malcolm Rifkind. The only cabinet member in the room who seemingly emerged unscathed was Ian Lang, who had the fortune as it turned out to be late for the cabinet meeting. The government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland had been massacred in one foul swoop.
The morning continued in a frenzied manner, with little known as to the best way forward under the circumstances. Trading was cancelled for the day on the London Stock Exchange and following an emergency meeting of the 1922 committee, as the most senior surviving member of the government the Palace sent word that Ian Lang be sent to accept the post of Prime Minister. It was agreed that he would form an interim government until the crisis passed. His first act as Prime Minister, suffering only mild bruising around the face, was to call for a state of emergency.
From Buckingham Palace, as Downing Street was at this point impassable, the new Prime Minister gave his first words on the matter.
“Today, a terrible event has passed which has shaken the nation. It has shaken us, but it will not defeat us. We must not let it defeat us. Many colleagues(pause), many friends have(pause), have died today. I, we must not let this shake our resolve. Peace in Northern Ireland must be the objective. The terrorists must not be allowed to win, it is with this objective in mind rather than a hope for vengeance I have accepted the invitation by Her Majesty to form a new government. They will be caught. They will be brought to justice.”
Ian Lang, 7th February 1991.
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The Downing Street Mortar blast was clearly the most audacious act of terrorism inflicted on the British mainland by the IRA. Sickeningly for many in Westminster, the Falls Road in Belfast was a scene for impromptu celebrations. That the killers had escaped the scene was cause in certain circles for further rejoicing. Such scenes were broadcast to the international media causing outrage amongst many. As the day went on, riots began and the Army, in line with the state of emergency had to be called in to keep the peace. The atmosphere could be cut with a blade of grass.
That Gerry Adams, despite international condemnation, refused to condemn the attacks outright made the tension rise further. Fears began to emerge that the situation was starting to spiral beyond the control of the authorities.