Finding these fascinating reading Dan. I lived in London from 1974 onwards and as a Government Forensic Scientist was deemed a 'legitimate' target. On receipt of bomb threats with correct code word our evacuation point was where the Imax cinema now stands outside London's Waterloo Station. A good friend of mine also worked in the Northern Ireland office in Belfast. I recall those having an Irish accent in London at the time drew many a sideways glance. Also the removal of all rubbish bins from London railway stations and no large bags, boxes etc could be taken into most London pubs. It was an 'interesting' time.
Thanks for reading Harry. Yeah, it was definitely a wild time to be living anywhere in the UK! So much uncertainty. The whole bomb threat codes is a fascinating part of what happened, and it’s something I’ve been thinking about delving into a bit further to try and understand where it can from, who agreed what and how it became almost like a verification code for what was about to take place.
It would be interesting to know. At our laboratory we were briefed that if we took a call to listen for a specific word that would signify it was a 'legitimate' caller. Of course it didn't mean a bomb was in the building but it did cause disruption and no doubt how the evacuation was managed and how re-entry happened was probably being noted. I don't recall when / how the word changed.
I think you’re right regarding the watching on to see how places are evacuated. I also think that they had quite a lot of hoaxes as it draws police and army to a specific place, leaving time to complete some other kind of operation. It’s crazy that there could be so many layers to everything that happened.
Indeed - I moved from forensics into defence at the end of the seventies so didn't travel to Belfast (my first visit wasn't until 2010). In the early 1990s I had oversight responsibility on trials with GPS to protect high value goods that the PIRA (we always called them that, pronouncing it Pie-ra) targetted. Led to some interesting situations at times and not without some humour (at least after the event)
Fascinating series. Keep up the great work
Thank you Eamon. Appreciate it
Finding these fascinating reading Dan. I lived in London from 1974 onwards and as a Government Forensic Scientist was deemed a 'legitimate' target. On receipt of bomb threats with correct code word our evacuation point was where the Imax cinema now stands outside London's Waterloo Station. A good friend of mine also worked in the Northern Ireland office in Belfast. I recall those having an Irish accent in London at the time drew many a sideways glance. Also the removal of all rubbish bins from London railway stations and no large bags, boxes etc could be taken into most London pubs. It was an 'interesting' time.
Thanks for reading Harry. Yeah, it was definitely a wild time to be living anywhere in the UK! So much uncertainty. The whole bomb threat codes is a fascinating part of what happened, and it’s something I’ve been thinking about delving into a bit further to try and understand where it can from, who agreed what and how it became almost like a verification code for what was about to take place.
It would be interesting to know. At our laboratory we were briefed that if we took a call to listen for a specific word that would signify it was a 'legitimate' caller. Of course it didn't mean a bomb was in the building but it did cause disruption and no doubt how the evacuation was managed and how re-entry happened was probably being noted. I don't recall when / how the word changed.
I think you’re right regarding the watching on to see how places are evacuated. I also think that they had quite a lot of hoaxes as it draws police and army to a specific place, leaving time to complete some other kind of operation. It’s crazy that there could be so many layers to everything that happened.
Indeed - I moved from forensics into defence at the end of the seventies so didn't travel to Belfast (my first visit wasn't until 2010). In the early 1990s I had oversight responsibility on trials with GPS to protect high value goods that the PIRA (we always called them that, pronouncing it Pie-ra) targetted. Led to some interesting situations at times and not without some humour (at least after the event)
Sounds fascinating! I’m sure there were some eye opening discoveries. Probably even some that the general public were totally unaware of.