On April 24, 1993, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a massive truck bomb on Bishopsgate, causing widespread devastation London’s financial district. The attack involved a one-ton bomb hidden in a stolen truck, parked near 99 Bishopsgate. Despite a warning call placed about an hour before the explosion, the bomb caused over £350 million ( with estimates reaching one billion) in damages, one of the most costly terrorist attacks in Britain at that time. This wasn't the first time the IRA had utlied bombs against the British Army. In 1972, "Bloody Sunday" led to over 21 IRA bombs detonating in Belfast, earning the title "Bloody Friday". There were other tensions, such as the hunger fasts led by six or so IRA members, lasting over sixty-six days and killing ten.  Ed Hentry, a photographer and journalist, ignored the warning and became the sole victim of the bombing after allegedly rushing to the scene. The human impact of the bombing extended beyond physical injury. The Bishopsgate workers and residents were affected as they had already recovered from another bombing a year previously. While higher-paid professionals were able to recoup from this attack, lower-income workers, many of whom lived in surrounding boroughs like Hackney and Tower Hamlets, faced disruption, panic, and a lack of shelter for some time. For commuters and business owners, the economic consequences were immediate and damaging. London pushed for regeneration and reinforced security, introducing “The Ring of Steel,” a network of surveillance and police controls. While this increased long-term investment and safety in the financial district, it also deepened the social and economic divide between the city and the working-class communities nearby. The increase in police presence, while on the surface was aimed at increasing safety, ultimately led to a general unease due to the overwhelming amount of surveillance. The bombing showcased London's vulnerability to such attacks, and how close to home the IRA presence was and no longer could be ignored. It left an undeniable mark on Bishopsgate’s physical and social landscape as a constant reminder of Irish resistance within London.  

"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

"Irish Republican Army: Timeline" History. https://www.history.com/articles/irish-republican-army. Accessed April 25, 2025

Scan from "The Enemy Within" by Martin Dillon (ISBN 0-385-40506-5), original photo by Andre Camara of Reuters. Accessed April 25, 2025.