Irish rebels bomb Westminster Hall and the Tower of London

Background. The Fenian dynamite campaign was a series of political violence incidents orchestrated by Irish republican paramilitary groups in Great Britain from 1881 to 1885. The campaign involved attacks using explosives such as dynamite on British government and civilian targets, carried out by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, United Irishmen of America, and Clan na Gael. The ultimate aim was to end British rule in Ireland.

Attack Details. On 24 January 1885, three bombs exploded in London. The explosions occurred in the House of Commons chamber, in Westminster Hall, and in the Banqueting Room of the Tower of London. These specific incidents were part of the broader campaign that killed four people and wounded 86 across various targets in Great Britain.

Campaign Context. The campaign involved attacks on infrastructure, government, military, and police targets. By 1885, the campaign was petering out, though Irish republicans would continue to carry out attacks in Great Britain well into the 20th century. The specific attacks on Westminster Hall and the Tower of London occurred during this final phase of the campaign.