00:00Today marks 50 years since the Birmingham pub bombings, one of the most devastating
00:07attacks in British history. On the evening of the 21st of November 1974, two bombs exploded
00:14in city centre pubs, the Marlbury Bush and the Tavern in the town, killing 21 people
00:18and injuring 220 others. The tragedy struck at the heart of Birmingham during a time of
00:24heightened conflict known as the Troubles. This afternoon a memorial is being held near
00:30New Street station at the tree sculpture dedicated to the victims. Invited guests have gathered
00:36to reflect on the lives lost and the lasting impact of that night. A moment of silence
00:41is being observed, organised by the Birmingham Irish Association, allowing people across
00:46the city to pause and remember. The pub bombings remain the largest unsolved mass murder in
00:52British history. The Irish Republican Party is widely believed to be responsible, though
00:57it has never formally admitted involvement. In 1975, six men, later known as the Birmingham
01:03Six, were wrongly convicted. They spent 16 years in prison before their convictions were
01:09overturned in 1991. An inquest in 2019 concluded that the victims were unlawfully killed by
01:16the IRA, yet those responsible have never been brought to justice. Families of the victims
01:21continue to campaign for answers, urging the government to hold a statutory public
01:26inquiry to uncover the truth behind the attacks and the investigation that followed. The events
01:32of that night left a profound mark on the city and its people. While changes to forensic
01:37methods and legal processes followed the tragedy, the loss of life and the impact on families
01:42remain at the forefront of Birmingham's memory. For many, the pain of the 21st of November
01:481974 lingers as the quest for justice continues alongside the city's efforts to honour and
01:54remember those who were lost.
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