1985 Newry mortar attack, IRA attack in Northern Ireland
The 1985 Newry mortar attack was an armed assault on a police station in the town of Newry, Northern Ireland. A hijacked lorry equipped with a homemade mortar launcher was positioned about a quarter mile from the station at Corry Square and fired several shells that struck the building.
The attack occurred on 28 February 1985 and was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Nine police officers died in the assault, including both men and women from different backgrounds, and nearly 40 others were injured, making it the deadliest single attack on the RUC up to that time.
The original police base at Corry Square was closed in 2002 and is now a public park that visitors can walk through. The area is located in the town of Newry and can be accessed by following local streets.
The mortar weapon, known as the Mark 10, was an example of the improvised weapons used during the conflict and shows how armed groups adapted technology and equipment during the Troubles. Following the attack, security measures across Northern Ireland were revolutionized, with reinforced roofs and blast walls being installed at police and military stations.
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