Re: Why the F*CK did they do that??

[CHam628781@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 01/10/01 00:34:07 GMT Daylight Time, cortana@earthlink.net writes:


> More than that, too, wasn't there?  I seem to recall a Prince's Gate
> incident (or something like that) where terrorists took hostages. 
> The UK ramped up the psychological pressure and finally publically
> confirmed that the SAS were mobilized and were en route.
>
> The terrorists surrendered without a shot fired once they heard the
> SAS was coming in.


You refer to the Balcombe Street Siege of December 1975. The gang were part of a specialist IRA unit which sometimes numbered as many as 20 and were described as "the most violent, ruthless and highly-trained unit ever sent to Britain by the Provisional IRA" after the gang of four was given 47 life sentences. They had murdered seven people including the broadcaster and journalist Ross McWhirter (of Guiness Book of Records fame) and planted five bombs in ten days. 

On the night the siege started (December 6th) they had attacked Goff's restaurant in Mayfair London with automatic weapons fire. They were then chased through London by the Metropolitan Police and driven into a cul-de-sac where they ran through the open door of a house and took a couple hostage in a first floor flat. The siege ended after six days with the hostages being released and the gang giving itself up. The popular belief is that they were told that their time was up and the SAS were on their way.  

The unit was, ironically, modelled on the SAS. The training they received produced a team which was so closely integrated that police experts at the time of the trial said they believed it unlikely that another such unit could ever be recruited. It was really after this that the PIRA began using its very succesful cell system on the British mainland.

Hope this helps

Charles

"You can regale your companion if you wish with the story of the time you killed the Mexican with a short arm chin jab followed by a hand-edge chop to the Adam's apple, but this might distress her. Better stick to saying modestly at the right moment, 'I only know five ways of killing a man with a single blow."