TIMETABLE OF TERROR
Timetable of terror
THIS is a timetable of the events surrounding yesterday's bombing.
14.30: A telephone call was made to the media, warning of a bomb at the Courthouse in "Main Street".
14.31: Security forces went to the area around the Courthouse, which is at the top end of the High Street.
14.35: Police began evacuating the area, moving many people to the other end of the High Street.
14.45: People began congregating in a busy shopping area around the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road.
15.10: Bomb exploded close to the junction. Shops were devastated, with at least one building collapsing.
15.11: Staff at the Tyrone County Hospital were put on emergency alert and an immediate appeal was issued for doctors and nurses to return.
15.15: Blood-soaked survivors began searching among the rubble for friends and relatives.
16.10: Reports at the scene said eight to ten people had been killed.
16.15: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott condemned the attack, describing it as a "terrible outrage".
16.25: Ulster Unionist security spokesman Ken Maginnis said he believed the attack was the work of dissident republicans opposed to the Good Friday peace deal.
16.45: Local ambulance service said up to 12 people had died.
17.25: Tony Blair, holidaying in France, issued a statement condemning "an appalling act of savagery and evil" and vowing to pursue "to the utmost" those responsible.
17.40: SDLP Assembly member Joe Byrne said the bomb was on the route of a carnival parade which had passed about 10 minutes earlier.
17.45: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern issued a statement promising to "ruthlessly suppress" the terrorists behind the "dastardly" attack.
18.00 A statement on behalf of the Queen expressed her shock at the "appalling crime" and asked for "my heartfelt sympathy" to be passed on to the bereaved, injured and others who had suffered.
18.05: The RUC said up to 100 casualties had been taken to Tyrone County Hospital in two buses.
18.10: SDLP leader John Hume said the bombers were "undiluted fascists" suspecting they were outside politics and involved in crime.
18.12: Tyrone County Hospital, in Omagh said children were among the casualties. Some victims were being transferred to the Royal Victoria and South Tyrone Hospitals.
18.20: Erne Hospital, Enniskillen, reported 46 casualties admitted.
18.20: President Mary McAleese, who is from Northern Ireland, said she was deeply shocked.
18.22: John Bruton called on Mr Ahern to ask for an immediate meeting between Foreign Minister David Andrews and Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam to "co-ordinate an all-Ireland security initiative that would make the commissioning of such outrages impossible".
18.25: MP William Thompson, whose constituency includes Omagh, condemned "a terrible act".
18.25: The RUC said "at least 20 bodies" had been recovered, including women and children. It emerged that one woman was pregnant.
18.40: Tory leader William Hague said he stood "full square" behind Government and security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
19.00: The White House condemned the bomb but said it would not stop President Bill Clinton's planned visit in September.
19.05: Cardinal Basil Hume, RC Archbishop of Westminster, asked for prayers for everyone affected by "a crime against humanity".
19.05: The RUC announced a casualty bureau, on Belfast (01232) 673371.
19.15: Ronnie Flanagan, RUC Chief Constable, said at the scene that the bombers had given a grossly inaccurate warning with the intention of committing "bloody murder".
Over 21 people had been killed and more were dying in hospital.
19.40: Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble cut short his holiday to Germany to return home.
19.42: John Major, one of the main architects of the peace process, urged other paramilitary groups not to respond with retaliatory acts of violence.
20.05: Sinn Fein's Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness said he was disgusted by "an indefensible action"designed to wreck the peace process.
21.00: Leader of the hardline DUP, Ian Paisley, said Mr McGuinness fell short of an outright condemnation.
21.05: Tony Blair, in his first televised comments, pledged that the bombers will not be allowed to succeed in wrecking the peace process.
21.11: The RUC announced the death toll as 25 with over 100 injured. A spokesman said at least 21 bodies were recovered at the scene.
21.16: South Tyrone hospital in Omagh confirmed 108 casualties of whom five had died.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
THIS is a timetable of the events surrounding yesterday's bombing.
14.30: A telephone call was made to the media, warning of a bomb at the Courthouse in "Main Street".
14.31: Security forces went to the area around the Courthouse, which is at the top end of the High Street.
14.35: Police began evacuating the area, moving many people to the other end of the High Street.
14.45: People began congregating in a busy shopping area around the junction of Market Street and Dublin Road.
15.10: Bomb exploded close to the junction. Shops were devastated, with at least one building collapsing.
15.11: Staff at the Tyrone County Hospital were put on emergency alert and an immediate appeal was issued for doctors and nurses to return.
15.15: Blood-soaked survivors began searching among the rubble for friends and relatives.
16.10: Reports at the scene said eight to ten people had been killed.
16.15: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott condemned the attack, describing it as a "terrible outrage".
16.25: Ulster Unionist security spokesman Ken Maginnis said he believed the attack was the work of dissident republicans opposed to the Good Friday peace deal.
16.45: Local ambulance service said up to 12 people had died.
17.25: Tony Blair, holidaying in France, issued a statement condemning "an appalling act of savagery and evil" and vowing to pursue "to the utmost" those responsible.
17.40: SDLP Assembly member Joe Byrne said the bomb was on the route of a carnival parade which had passed about 10 minutes earlier.
17.45: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern issued a statement promising to "ruthlessly suppress" the terrorists behind the "dastardly" attack.
18.00 A statement on behalf of the Queen expressed her shock at the "appalling crime" and asked for "my heartfelt sympathy" to be passed on to the bereaved, injured and others who had suffered.
18.05: The RUC said up to 100 casualties had been taken to Tyrone County Hospital in two buses.
18.10: SDLP leader John Hume said the bombers were "undiluted fascists" suspecting they were outside politics and involved in crime.
18.12: Tyrone County Hospital, in Omagh said children were among the casualties. Some victims were being transferred to the Royal Victoria and South Tyrone Hospitals.
18.20: Erne Hospital, Enniskillen, reported 46 casualties admitted.
18.20: President Mary McAleese, who is from Northern Ireland, said she was deeply shocked.
18.22: John Bruton called on Mr Ahern to ask for an immediate meeting between Foreign Minister David Andrews and Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam to "co-ordinate an all-Ireland security initiative that would make the commissioning of such outrages impossible".
18.25: MP William Thompson, whose constituency includes Omagh, condemned "a terrible act".
18.25: The RUC said "at least 20 bodies" had been recovered, including women and children. It emerged that one woman was pregnant.
18.40: Tory leader William Hague said he stood "full square" behind Government and security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
19.00: The White House condemned the bomb but said it would not stop President Bill Clinton's planned visit in September.
19.05: Cardinal Basil Hume, RC Archbishop of Westminster, asked for prayers for everyone affected by "a crime against humanity".
19.05: The RUC announced a casualty bureau, on Belfast (01232) 673371.
19.15: Ronnie Flanagan, RUC Chief Constable, said at the scene that the bombers had given a grossly inaccurate warning with the intention of committing "bloody murder".
Over 21 people had been killed and more were dying in hospital.
19.40: Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble cut short his holiday to Germany to return home.
19.42: John Major, one of the main architects of the peace process, urged other paramilitary groups not to respond with retaliatory acts of violence.
20.05: Sinn Fein's Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness said he was disgusted by "an indefensible action"designed to wreck the peace process.
21.00: Leader of the hardline DUP, Ian Paisley, said Mr McGuinness fell short of an outright condemnation.
21.05: Tony Blair, in his first televised comments, pledged that the bombers will not be allowed to succeed in wrecking the peace process.
21.11: The RUC announced the death toll as 25 with over 100 injured. A spokesman said at least 21 bodies were recovered at the scene.
21.16: South Tyrone hospital in Omagh confirmed 108 casualties of whom five had died.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/018
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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