Town blasted by 1,500lb IRA bomb

A large IRA bomb caused widespread damage to the centre of Newtownards, Co Down, in the latest of a series of terrorist attacks on Northern Ireland cities and towns.

The centre of the market town was devastated by a bomb which the IRA said contained 1,500lbs of explosive. Police said a 20-minute warning had been given but the area was still being evacuated when the bomb went off. Seven people were injured, one seriously.