The investigation into the 1996 IRA bombing of Manchester is 'no longer active', counter terror police have confirmed.
Background of the Attack
More than 220 people were injured when a 3,300lb device exploded on Corporation Street on the morning of June 15, 1996. An estimated £700m of property damage was caused in the blast, but remarkably no one was killed.
No one has ever been charged in connection with the attack. Now, as the 30th anniversary of the bomb approaches, Counter Terrorism Policing North West said that as all lines of enquiry had been exhausted the investigation is 'no longer active'.
Investigation Details
The IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, which left much of the city centre in ruins. In September 2022, an individual was arrested at Birmingham Airport on suspicion of terrorism offences. They were questioned but later released without charge.
On Thursday (June 11), police said a second suspect identified during the investigation would also have been arrested and questioned had he not died several years earlier.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: "The 1996 Manchester bombing was a significant event in the history of the city of Manchester and beyond. Many of us can tell you exactly where we were and what we were doing when the bomb exploded.
"The impact of the explosion was so large that the city centre architecture physically changed forever. It is close to a miracle that nobody was killed during the incident, however hundreds of people were physically injured and many more were also profoundly impacted by what happened on that day.
"It is for that reason, we have been committed to establishing the full picture behind what happened and have continued to review this case, despite the passage of time since. Following the 20th anniversary, we took the decision to conduct a review of the original investigation and all the available evidence. This identified some new, albeit limited, investigative opportunities.
"A case of this significance, coupled with the amount of time that has passed, brings complexities so pursuing limited investigative opportunities such as these takes time. We arrested and interviewed one suspect in 2022 before releasing him without charge.
"A second man would have been arrested and interviewed; however he died whilst preparations were underway to arrest him. Those limited investigative opportunities have now been exhausted and the investigation is no longer active.
"Should any further evidence or information come to light about new or existing suspects then we are prepared to review this position again."
