Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army Actions (1970-1979)

1973

1 January 1973: A rocket hit Springfield Road RUC base in Belfast, injuring two people. The following night, another rocket was fired at Beragh RUC base, County Tyrone. It missed the target and hit an unoccupied house nearby.
4 January 1973: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA outside his home in Straidarran, County Londonderry.
5 January 1973: A civilian was shot dead by the IRA outside a filling station in Belfast. He had been mistaken for an off-duty British soldier.
14 January 1973: Three members of the RUC were killed in separate IRA bomb attacks in Cappagh and Derry City.
16 January 1973: An off-duty UDR soldier was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA in Belfast. his body was dumped in an abandoned car.
18 January 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army during an attempted robbery in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
25 January 1973: A judge was shot dead by the IRA on the Falls Road in Belfast.
26 January 1973: A UDR landrover was hit by an IRA grenade and gunfire near Whitecross, County Armagh. Three soldiers were hurt. Another soldier was badly wounded by a sniper while patrolling in Lurgan, County Armagh.
30 January 1973: A UDA member was kidnapped and shot dead by the IRA near Rodney Parade in Belfast. It was alleged that the UDA member had been involved in the killing of a 15 year old Catholic boy the day before.
1 February 1973: A British soldier was shot dead in an IRA sniper attack while he was manning a vehicle checkpoint in Strabane, County Tyrone.
2 February 1973: A UDA member was killed in an IRA drive-by gun attack on the Oldpark Road in Belfast.
4 February 1973: An IRA volunteer, along with three civilians, were shot dead by British Army snipers in the New Lodge area of Belfast.
6 February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA rocket attack on a British Army Armoured Personnel carrier in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.
7 February 1973: A UDA member was kidnapped by the IRA and later found shot dead in the New Lodge area of Belfast.
8 February 1973: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA sniper as he sat in a stationary patrol car in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
10 February 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when a bomb they were assembling exploded prematurely near Strangford, County Down.
14 February 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while patrolling the Divis Flats complex in west Belfast.
20 February 1973: Two British soldiers were killed when their mobile-patrol was ambushed by IRA snipers in Cupar Street, Belfast.
21 February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack on Fort Pegasus British Army base in the Whiterock area of Belfast.
25 February 1973: A nine-year-old child was killed after he triggered an IRA booby trap bomb which had been planted at the rear of his house.
27 February 1973: Two RUC officers were killed when their patrol was ambushed by an IRA sniper in Aghagallon, County Antrim.
28 February 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA gun attack on a patrol in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.
3 March 1973: An off-duty UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Mullennan, County Londonderry.
4 March 1973: A British soldier was killed when the IRA carried out a gun attack on a British Army unit which was raiding homes in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.
6 March 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while patrolling the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. Another British soldier was wounded by an IRA booby-trap bomb planted in a derelict house near Forkill, County Armagh. He died on 8 March 1973.
8 March 1973: The Provisional IRA conducted its first operation in England, planting four car bombs in London. Two bombs exploded, killing one person and injuring 265 others. Ten members of the IRA team, including Gerry Kelly, Dolours Price and Marian Price, were arrested at Heathrow Airport trying to leave the country.
8 March 1973: During the Border-Poll a number of polling stations came under IRA attack with a British soldier being shot dead by the IRA at a station in the Lower Falls.
13 March 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby trap bomb while on patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
16 March 1973: A UDR soldier was kidnapped by the IRA and shot dead on the New Lodge Road in Belfast.
17 March 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on his armoured patrol near Dungannon, County Tyrone.
23 March 1973: Three British soldiers were killed by the IRA after being lured to a house on Antrim Road in Belfast. All three were shot dead.
26 March 1973: The IRA fired four rockets at British and RUC targets. One was fired at a British Saracen APC near the border, one at an RUC landrover near the border and another at a British patrol in Belfast.
27 March 1973: A British soldier was killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British mobile patrol in Ballygawley, County Tyrone.
29 March 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in Andersonstown, Belfast.
1 April 1973: A rocket was fired at Caledon RUC base, County Tyrone. It exploded against the perimeter fence and caused little damage.
7 April 1973: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on a British armoured patrol near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
9 April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol in Lurgan, County Armagh.
11 April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by the IRA while on foot-patrol in the Bogside area of Derry City.
12 April 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.
17 April 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by a British Army sniper while standing talking with a number of men in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.
20 April 1973: A British soldier was shot by an IRA sniper in the New Lodge, Belfast. A British post was hit by a rocket and then raked with gunfire in Ballymurphy, Belfast. The British returned fire but there were no casualties.
28 April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Shantallow, Derry City.
29 April 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on mobile-patrol in the New Lodge area of Belfast.
3 May 1973: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on foot patrol on the Foyle Road in Derry City.
5 May 1973: Three British soldiers were killed in an IRA landmine attack on their foot patrol in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
10 May 1973: A UDR soldier was shot dead by the IRA in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. In Fermanagh, an IRA volunteer Anthony Ahern was killed when a landmine he was preparing near Rosslea exploded.
13 May 1973: Two British soldiers were killed when the IRA detonated a remote-controlled bomb as their foot patrol passed on the Donegall Road in Belfast. In Tyrone, an IRA volunteer was killed as he attempted to smash his car through a British Army UDR checkpoint near Coagh.
14 May 1973: A civilian was killed when he triggered an IRA booby-trap bomb hidden in a derelict cottage on Moy Road in Portadown, County Armagh. The bomb was intended for the security forces.
17 May 1973: A booby trap bomb in Omagh, County Tyrone killed four off-duty British soldiers. A fifth soldier died of his injuries on 3 June.
18 May 1973: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by the British Army while carrying out a sniper attack on a British patrol.
24 May 1973: Two British soldiers were killed in an IRA remote-controlled bomb attack as they searched houses in Cullaville, County Armagh.
26 May 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army foot patrol on Finaghy Road North, Belfast.
5 June 1973: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Belmore Street in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
5 June 1973: A civilian was found shot dead near Clogher, County Tyrone. The IRA said he was killed for being an informer.
12 June 1973: Six civilians were killed by an IRA car bomb on Railway Road in Coleraine, County Londonderry. The warning given by the IRA had been inadequate.
21 June 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an empty building on Lecky Road, Derry.
21 June 1973: A British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an empty building in Strabane, County Londonderry.
25 June 1973: Three IRA volunteers were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in their car on Gortin Road near Omagh, County Tyrone.
26 June 1973: The IRA shot dead a civilian who worked for the British Army as he left Bligh's Lane British Army Base, Derry.
1 July 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier at Bull Ring, Belfast.
4 July 1973: A British base in Derry was hit by two rockets and raked with gunfire. Another rocket exploded against the fence of a British base in Belfast, hurting two people. Two British patrols were ambushed elsewhere in Belfast and two people were hurt in the crossfire.
10 July 1973: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier outside Tully's Bar in Belleek, County Armagh.
11 July 1973: A rocket was fired at a British post guarding a gasworks in Derry. It hit an anti-rocket screen and there were no casualties. The IRA claimed responsibility.
17 July 1973: Two British soldiers were killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in an electricity junction box at Divis Flats, Belfast.
18 July 1973: A patrolling British soldier was wounded by an IRA landmine near Clogher, County Tyrone. He died on 22 July 1973.
20 July 1973: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in Middletown, County Armagh.
20 July 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier outside his home in Ballintemple, County Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.
21 July 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when the bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in their car in Newcastle, County Down.
3 August 1973: IRA members shot dead a civilian who was delivering wages to the British Leyland factory on Cashel Road, Dublin. They were carrying-out an armed robbery.
11 August 1973: An IRA volunteer died when the bomb he was transporting exploded prematurely in a car at Kilclean, County Donegal.
11 August 1973: An IRA assault team consisting of over 20 volunteers surrounded Crossmaglen RUC barracks. The barracks was hit with rockets, mortars and machine gun fire. The RUC fired a large number of shots at the unit. There were no serious injuries on either side.
13 August 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty RUC Reservist at his workplace on Cathedral Road, Armagh town.
16 August 1973: Two IRA volunteers were killed when a mortar prematurely exploded during an attack on Pomeroy British Army/RUC base, County Tyrone. The IRA attacked the base for about an hour with machine-guns, a dozen mortars and three rockets.
18 August 1973: Two IRA firebombs exploded at Harrods Department store in London causing slight damage.
20 August 1973: Book bombs were sent to a number of places in London including the Old Bailey and the Union Jack Club. Ten incendiary devices were also defused in Londons West End.
22 August 1973: An IRA book bomb exploded at the Conservative Party Central Office in London.
23 August 1973: The IRA accidentally shot dead a civilian as she drove her car at Tullyvallan, County Armagh. The sniper had mistaken her car for that of a UDR soldier.
23 August 1973: A book bombs was sent to the Lieutenant General of the Ministry of Defence in London but was defused. An IRA bomb in a tube station in London was also defused.
24 August 1973: A civilian was found shot dead in a car on Buncrana Road, Derry. The IRA said it killed him for being an informer.
24 August 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at the London Stock Exchange.
25 August 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at the Bank of England in London. An IRA bomb was also defused in Oxford Street.
25 August 1973: The IRA shot an undercover British soldier outside Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. He died on 18 September 1973.
27 August 1973: The IRA destroyed The Royal Bastion monument to British Governor Walker in Derry with a large bomb.
28 August 1973: The IRA shot dead a UDR soldier in the Culdee area of Armagh town.
29 August 1973: Two IRA bombs exploded in Solihull Shopping Centre in England. A building society was extensively damaged.
30 August 1973: A British Army officer was killed while trying to defuse an IRA bomb at Tullyhommon Post Office, County Fermanagh.
23 August 1973: Two IRA volunteers were hurt in a premature explosion in a house on Elaine Street, Belfast. One died on 30 August and the other died on 1 September 1973.
30 August 1973: A shoe shop in London was destroyed by an IRA firebomb and a bomb was defused at Baker Street tube station.
31 August 1973: One IRA volunteer was killed and another wounded in a shootout with the British Army on Ballymurphy Road, Belfast. The other died on 22 September 1973.
31 August 1973: Three vehicles were damaged when an IRA bomb exploded on Old Quebec Street in London.
5 September 1973: A civilian was killed when he triggered a booby-trap bomb by driving his tractor into a field near Belcoo, County Fermanagh. It is believed it was planted by the IRA and intended for the security forces. The RUC had just removed a dummy bomb at the scene.
7 September 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty UDR soldier near Belcoo, County Fermanagh.
8 September 1973: An IRA bomb exploded at the ticket office in Victoria Station, London, injuring five people.
10 Septepmber 1973: The IRA detonated bombs at two train stations in London. Injuring 13 people.
12 September 1973: Two Police officers were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at the offices of the Royal Naval Association in London. A woman collapsed and died during an evacuation following a hoax bomb alert at Euston Station in London.
17 September 1973: A British Army bomb disposal expert was wounded attempting to defuse an IRA bomb which had been planted in Birmingham, England. He died on 23 September 1973. Another IRA bomb was discovered at a Household Cavalry camp in Surrey.
20 September 1973: Five people were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at the Headquarters of the Duke of York in London.
22 September 1973: A civilian was found shot dead on Foyle Road, Derry. The IRA claimed it killed him for being an informer.
2 October 1973: An IRA incendiary bomb caused extensive damage to a department store in Colchester, Essex. Another IRA firebomb damaged Heathrow airport.
3 October 1973: A British soldier was killed by a booby-trap bomb in a parcel left at Bligh's Lane British Army Base, Derry.
3 October 1973: The IRA shot dead a former UDR soldier in Lurgan, County Armagh. He was also a member of the Orange Order.
4 October 1973: Four people were injured when an IRA bomb exploded at a British Army careers office in London.
16 October 1973: The IRA shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Antrim Road, Belfast.
28 October 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
28 October 1973: The IRA shot dead an off-duty RUC officer near Lifford, County Donegal.
31 October 1973: Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape. Three IRA volunteers escaped from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin after a hijacked helicopter landed in the exercise yard. One of the escapees was former IRA Chief of Staff Seamus Twomey.
6 November 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.
13 November 1973: A civilian was found shot dead near the Floral Hall on Antrim Road, Belfast. The IRA said it killed him because he was an informer.
14 November 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army observation post on Moira Street, Belfast.
14 November 1973: A civilian was killed during an IRA sniper attack on a British Army patrol on Lecky Road, Derry.
15 November 1973: The RUC shot dead an IRA volunteer during a gun attack on Keady British Army/RUC base, County Armagh.
24 November 1973: A patrolling British soldier was killed by an IRA landmine near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
24 November 1973: The British Army shot dead a Fianna member during a bomb attack on a British Army patrol at Divis Flats, Belfast.
25 November 1973: The IRA shot dead two patrolling British soldiers at Rossville Flats, Derry. Six rockets and heavy gunfire hit Belleek RUC base, County Fermanagh. The attack came from the other side of the border.
27 November 1973: The British Army shot dead an IRA volunteer as he tried to hijack a car in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
1 December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling RUC officer on Edward Street, Lurgan, County Armagh.
3 December 1973: The British Army shot dead an IRA volunteer at Central Drive, Derry. The IRA unit was attempting to ambush a British patrol.
10 December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a patrolling British soldier on Leeson Street, Belfast.
11 December 1973: An RUC officer was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb attached to his car at his home in Newcastle, County Down. Another under-car bomb blew-off an RUC officer's leg in Downpatrick, County Down. Belcoo RUC base in County Fermanagh was attacked with rockets and machine-guns, wounding one officer.
15 December 1973: The IRA shot dead a former RUC officer at Derrynoose near Keady, County Armagh.
15 December 1973: An IRA volunteer died when the bomb he was carrying exploded pematurely as he walked across a bridge near Clady, County Donegal.
17 December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at Collier House in London.
18 December 1973: The IRA carried out a series of attacks in London. IN one attack two police officers were injured in an explosion in Ronan Way. 52 People were injured when a bomb exploded at Horseferry House and six people were injured when a bomb exploded at a Postal sorting office.
19 December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA letterbomb exploded at a postal sorting office in London.
20 December 1973: The IRA accidentally shot dead a civilian on Atlantic Avenue, Belfast. An RUC Reservist was the intended target.
23 December 1973: The IRA carried out a series of bombings in London. Bombs exploded at Kensington police station, Hammersmith offices, George Wimpey and outside the White Lion pub.
24 December 1973: The Provisional IRA left two packages which exploded almost simultaneously in the late evening on Christmas Eve. One was in the doorway of the North Star public house South Hampstead, which exploded injuring six people, and the other exploded on the upstairs verandah of the nearby Swiss Cottage Tavern where an unspecified number of people were injured.
24 December 1973: Three IRA volunteers were killed when their bomb prematurely exploded in Clarke's Bar on Monaghan Street, Newry.
26 December 1973: One person was injured when an IRA bomb exploded at Stage Door public house in London.
31 December 1973: An IRA sniper shot dead a British soldier who was traveling in an APC on Beechmount Avenue, Belfast.

Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army Actions (1970-1979) - 1973