place

Downing Street mortar attack

1990s in the City of Westminster1991 crimes in the United Kingdom1991 in British politics1991 in LondonAttacks on buildings and structures in 1991
Attacks on buildings and structures in LondonAttacks on government buildings and structuresBuilding bombings in EnglandCrime in WestminsterDowning StreetEngvarB from May 2013Failed assassination attempts in the United KingdomFailed terrorist attempts in the United KingdomFebruary 1991 crimesFebruary 1991 events in the United KingdomImprovised explosive device bombings in 1991Provisional IRA bombings in LondonTerrorist incidents in London in the 1990sTerrorist incidents in the United Kingdom in 1991
London , Westminster Statue and Downing St Back geograph.org.uk 1739721
London , Westminster Statue and Downing St Back geograph.org.uk 1739721

The Downing Street mortar attack was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 7 February 1991. The IRA launched three homemade mortar shells at 10 Downing Street, London, the headquarters of the British government in an attempt to assassinate prime minister John Major and his war Cabinet, who were meeting to discuss the Gulf War. One of the 140 pounds (64 kg) mortar shells exploded in the back garden of Number 10, yards from the Cabinet Office. Due to the bomb-resistant windows, none of the cabinet were hurt, though four other people received minor injuries, including two police officers. The other two shells overshot Downing Street and landed on a green nearby.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Downing Street mortar attack (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Downing Street mortar attack
Downing Street, City of Westminster Lambeth

Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places
placeShow on map

Wikipedia: Downing Street mortar attackContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 51.503611111111 ° E -0.12805555555556 °
placeShow on map

Address

Government Chief Whip's Office

Downing Street 12
SW1A 2AD City of Westminster, Lambeth
England, United Kingdom
mapOpen on Google Maps

London , Westminster Statue and Downing St Back geograph.org.uk 1739721
London , Westminster Statue and Downing St Back geograph.org.uk 1739721
Share experience

Nearby Places

10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street

10 Downing Street (pronunciation ) in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the First Lord of the Treasury, usually also the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom. Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. A private residence for the prime minister's use occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. The other floors contain offices and conference, reception, sitting and dining rooms where the prime minister works, and where government ministers, national leaders and foreign dignitaries are met and hosted. At the rear is an interior courtyard and a terrace overlooking a 1⁄2 acre (0.2 ha) garden. Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is approximately 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) from Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British Monarch, and near the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of both Houses of Parliament. Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Sir Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. Walpole accepted on the condition that the gift was to the office of First Lord of the Treasury. The post of First Lord of the Treasury has, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and invariably since 1905, been held by the Prime Minister. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses and it is this larger house that is known as Number 10 Downing Street. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early prime ministers lived at 10 Downing Street. Costly to maintain, neglected, and run-down, Number 10 was scheduled to be demolished several times, but the property survived and became linked with many statesmen and events in British history. In 1985, Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage".10 Downing Street is Government property. Its registered legal title is held in the name of Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (the Secretary of State is a corporation sole).