§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstance the Army was called to the centre of Carrickfergus on Thursday, 23rdMarch, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; what injuries resulted; what weight of explosives was used; how and where the bomb was planted; how was it detonated; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI understand that at 8.35 a.m. the Royal Ulster Constabulary received an anonymous telephone call warning that a bomb had been left in a green van parked in West Street, Carrickfergus. That area was promptly cleared but at 9.5 a.m. a bomb exploded in a red car in North Street. Seventeen people, including four members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, were 29W injured and extensive damage was caused to shops and other property in the area.
Army ammunition technical officers assessed that the bomb had contained 100 to 150 lbs. of explosive and that it had been detonated by a timing device. I understand that police inquiries are continuing although no arrests have yet been made in connection with this incident.