Bloody Sunday Bombing Tactics

The Provos operated under a structure strikingly similar to a military chain of command. It had divisions of size in various brigades, battalions, and companies. Each unit was tasked with specific geographical combat areas. In recruitment across the course of the struggle, women make up approximately one in twenty militants. This may be because of the fact that males are more attracted to high-risk behavior and revenge. Recruiter also targeted males. Females were often engaged in support tasks such as providing shelter to male PIRA volunteers, serving as couriers – of IEDs, funds, and information – and acting as look-outs for male operatives. Indiscriminate violence, though less effective than selective violence, is much easier as it

Their initial campaign appeared to produce little public support. But, the pivotal event of “Bloody Sunday” soon changed this. In this defining moment, British soldiers had shot and killed thirteen innocent civil rights marchers in a Catholic rally in Londonderry. This was an unprecedented propaganda coup for PIRA and resulted in mass mobilization and recruitment. Civilian fatalities attributed to PIRA also peaked during this period, which featured “Bloody Friday” where, in the space of under two hours, twenty-two improvised explosive devices killed nine people and left one hundred thirty injured. PIRA’s systematic bombing campaign was directed mostly at commercial targets. Over three decades of the campaign, PIRA had used at least 14.5 tons of explosives. The terrorism they engaged in was just a tactic of their overarching strategy. The Provos were aware of the disparity in resources and realize that there was no way of defeating the British army. Their strategy was to engage in armed conflict towards the aim of pushing the British state to negotiate terms. Their vision was aptly summarized by their strategy to “fight the British to the conference