On April 24^th1993, Bishopsgate was the site of an IRA truck bombing which injured over 40 people, killing one, and caused one billion euros worth of damage, including the destruction of St. Ethelburga’s church. News of the World photographer Edward Hendy was killed. There was significant damage to the NatWest Tower and Liverpool Street station. Bishopsgate had already suffered damage previously as the Baltic Exchange bombing occurred one year prior. Politically, the bombing was accomplished in order to disrupt, and severely damage, the British economy. Additionally, it would put pressure on the British government to negotiate a withdrawal from Northern Ireland. At the time, the British Prime Minister John Major refused to openly discuss with Sinn Fein, an Irish political group, until the IRA declared a ceasefire. Due to these tensions and lack of political progress, the risk of an IRA attack increased, and ultimately led to one.

"BBC ON THIS DAY | 24 | 1993: IRA bomb devastates City of London". BBC News. 24 April 1993. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2025