COUNTDOWN TO MASS MURDER
COUNTDOWN TO MASS MURDER
Smiling Spanish tourists pose in the August sunshine.
Five minutes later, the bomb that devastated Omagh and killed 29 people exploded in the car beside them
By Chris Thornton
THE countdown to murder had already begun.
While shoppers enjoy the Saturday sunshine and smiling tourists pose for a photograph, a massive car bomb sits among them - ticking closer to the moment when it will rip the heart out of Omagh.
This photograph, published in full for the first time today, was taken minutes before 300lbs of explosives packed into the red car on the right caused the worst carnage of the Troubles.
Almost everyone in the photograph, and many others beside, were badly affected by the August 15 blast. The woman who owned the camera died in the explosion.
It is estimated that within five minutes of the photo being taken, a mechanical timer set the bomb off - ultimately killing 29 people and injuring 250.
A bomb alert was already underway. Police had received warnings that a bomb was at the courthouse, 400 yards behind the spot where the photo was snapped.
The traffic warden at the back had started directing cars away from the area. She was among the injured.
Some people standing in groups on the left and right of the picture had already been evacuated from the area around the courthouse.
They ended up standing next to the bomb, although the photograph makes it clear that most were at ease.
A group of Spanish language students appear to have been undisturbed by the alert. Two of them were dead within moments.
One of their leaders, 23-year-old Gonzola Cavedo, is the man standing at the centre of the photograph. He survived the explosion.
Police had previously published this photograph, but with all the people silhouetted.
They have released the full version today as part of a renewed appeal for information about the bombing.
Everyone who has been identified in the picture, or their relatives, have given their permission for its use. The only exception is the young girl at the centre, who was badly injured and whose identity is being protected.
The photograph was found in a camera among 30 tons of rubble removed from the scene. It is believed to have belonged to Rocio Abad Ramos (23), another leader of the Spanish group.
A security source said the picture raises serious questions about the bombers' claim that they were trying to bomb Omagh's courthouse but abandoned the car when they could not get close to their target.
"Look at that photograph. The street isn't that busy and the traffic hasn't built up much in the background," said the source.
"There is nothing there to indicate why they couldn't get to the courthouse. So if they really intended to bomb the courthouse, what was stopping them from putting the bomb there?"
Police have worked out that the photograph was taken probably less than five minutes before the bomb exploded.
The woman with a pram at the back of the picture has come forward. She crossed the road and had walked less than 100 yards away from the bomb when it went off.
During the three months of their massive investigation, RUC officers believe they have built up a better picture of the way the bomb was planted.
Almost 2,500 people have been interviewed by the team of over 30 detectives working on the case.
Evidence has tied the attack more closely to Real IRA figures in south Armagh. The red Vauxhall Cavalier which carried the bomb was seen in Cullaville and Crossmaglen shortly before the attack.
And warnings were telephoned from call boxes in Forkhill and Newtownhamilton.
Detective Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson, who is in charge of the RUC investigation, said: "We are pursuing a number of inquiries and it is likely that more arrests will follow, but we still need help from the public.
"I am asking everyone in the community to help us catch the bombers.
"We are convinced that somebody out there knows something which will assist us in our investigations.
"If you know anything, anything at all, no matter how small or unimportant you think it is, we want to hear from you."
Smiling Spanish tourists pose in the August sunshine.
Five minutes later, the bomb that devastated Omagh and killed 29 people exploded in the car beside them
By Chris Thornton
THE countdown to murder had already begun.
While shoppers enjoy the Saturday sunshine and smiling tourists pose for a photograph, a massive car bomb sits among them - ticking closer to the moment when it will rip the heart out of Omagh.
This photograph, published in full for the first time today, was taken minutes before 300lbs of explosives packed into the red car on the right caused the worst carnage of the Troubles.
Almost everyone in the photograph, and many others beside, were badly affected by the August 15 blast. The woman who owned the camera died in the explosion.
It is estimated that within five minutes of the photo being taken, a mechanical timer set the bomb off - ultimately killing 29 people and injuring 250.
A bomb alert was already underway. Police had received warnings that a bomb was at the courthouse, 400 yards behind the spot where the photo was snapped.
The traffic warden at the back had started directing cars away from the area. She was among the injured.
Some people standing in groups on the left and right of the picture had already been evacuated from the area around the courthouse.
They ended up standing next to the bomb, although the photograph makes it clear that most were at ease.
A group of Spanish language students appear to have been undisturbed by the alert. Two of them were dead within moments.
One of their leaders, 23-year-old Gonzola Cavedo, is the man standing at the centre of the photograph. He survived the explosion.
Police had previously published this photograph, but with all the people silhouetted.
They have released the full version today as part of a renewed appeal for information about the bombing.
Everyone who has been identified in the picture, or their relatives, have given their permission for its use. The only exception is the young girl at the centre, who was badly injured and whose identity is being protected.
The photograph was found in a camera among 30 tons of rubble removed from the scene. It is believed to have belonged to Rocio Abad Ramos (23), another leader of the Spanish group.
A security source said the picture raises serious questions about the bombers' claim that they were trying to bomb Omagh's courthouse but abandoned the car when they could not get close to their target.
"Look at that photograph. The street isn't that busy and the traffic hasn't built up much in the background," said the source.
"There is nothing there to indicate why they couldn't get to the courthouse. So if they really intended to bomb the courthouse, what was stopping them from putting the bomb there?"
Police have worked out that the photograph was taken probably less than five minutes before the bomb exploded.
The woman with a pram at the back of the picture has come forward. She crossed the road and had walked less than 100 yards away from the bomb when it went off.
During the three months of their massive investigation, RUC officers believe they have built up a better picture of the way the bomb was planted.
Almost 2,500 people have been interviewed by the team of over 30 detectives working on the case.
Evidence has tied the attack more closely to Real IRA figures in south Armagh. The red Vauxhall Cavalier which carried the bomb was seen in Cullaville and Crossmaglen shortly before the attack.
And warnings were telephoned from call boxes in Forkhill and Newtownhamilton.
Detective Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson, who is in charge of the RUC investigation, said: "We are pursuing a number of inquiries and it is likely that more arrests will follow, but we still need help from the public.
"I am asking everyone in the community to help us catch the bombers.
"We are convinced that somebody out there knows something which will assist us in our investigations.
"If you know anything, anything at all, no matter how small or unimportant you think it is, we want to hear from you."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0510
Published Date: 20-Nov-98
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