30th Anniversary of IRA bomb in Docklands of London: Victims speak of 'betrayal' for trade deals by Tony Blair
Victims approaching the 30th anniversary of the IRA London Docklands bomb say their own government has betrayed their welfare in favour of Blair-era deals with the country that supplied the explosives – Libya.
On 9 February 1996 the IRA ended its’ ceasefire during talks with the UK, exploding a half-tonne lorry bomb in the economic heart of London – the Docklands.
Planted outside a newsagents kiosk run by Inam Bashir (29) and John Jeffries (21), it killed them and injured 100 others – 42 severely.
The bomb caused £150m of damage and left many homeless.
Like many IRA bombs it used Semtex supplied by Libyan dictator Col Gaddafi.
In October the government was slated for sitting on a report for five years which advised it to quickly press Libya for compensation; Libya has paid £1m per person to American, German and French victims of its terror attacks.
IRA victims believe the UK won’t press Libya due to oil deals it made with the UK under Tony Blair.
Docklands Victims Association (DVA) President Jonathan Ganesh was only 50m away from the bomb and survived – with serious injuries.
The DVA is holding its 30th anniversary service this Monday at the scene of the attack.
Guests will include survivors and families, and victims of other atrocities such as 7/7, and of other Libya-IRA semtex attacks, such as Harrods, the Baltic Exchange, Enniskillen and Aldwych.
DVA will be releasing white doves as a symbol of peace “and to symbolise our desire to end all terrorist violence throughout the world”, Mr Ganesh said.
He added: “I can’t believe it is 30 years since the IRA blew up the London Docklands and killed my two friends.”
He is “deeply saddened” that two survivors later took their lives due to the impact of their injuries. Many others passed away prematurely.
"All acts of terrorism are truly acts of evil,” he said,
Mr Ihsan Bashir, whose brother Inam was killed in the Docklands IRA bomb, said the anniversary will be “very heartbreaking” as he is aware of other victims who took their lives.
However he is “very moved and deeply touched” that after 30 years his brother and other terror victims are still remembered.
Susanne Dodd, whose father Police Inspector Stephen Dodd was killed in the 1983 Harrods IRA bomb, said victims “have been betrayed by their government”.
She notes that America and other governments “fought” to secure compensation for Semtex victims. "Our own UK government are a disgrace,” she added.
Sarah Butt, whose brother-in-law Paul Butt was killed in the Baltic Exchange IRA bomb in1992, said it was “disgracefull” that after 30 years they are no closer to securing compensation.
"Meanwhile this Government profit from taxation on Libyan frozen assets and Blair-era trade deals with Libya,” she added.
Kenny Donaldson, director of victims group SEFF, said the Docklands bombing is usually remembered for the breakdown of IRA ceasefire and the cost to the economy.
However his group focuses on the human cost: “The brutal murders of John Jeffries and Inam Bashir and many others were seriously injured, physically and psychologically.”
He too noted that 30 years on there has been “no justice nor accountability” and “no compensation".