City to mark 50 years since the Birmingham pub bombings
On this day, in 1974, two bombs went off in the city centre killing 21 innocent people
Fifty years ago today, on the 21st November 1974, the biggest unsolved mass murder in British history took place in Birmingham.
The Mulberry Bush pub and the Tavern in the Town were bombed in an attack by the Provisional IRA, leaving 21 people dead and 220 injured.
Six men, who became known as the Birmingham Six, were jailed for more than 16 years, after being wrongly convicted of carrying out the attack.
In 1991, their convictions were quashed. To this day, the real bombers have never been brought to justice.
Today, the city will mark the 50th milestone with a number of memorial services.
The first will be held at New Street Station, next to the tree memorial which bears the names of the 21 victims.
The service, organised by the Birmingham Irish Association, is for invited guests only, with relatives, survivors, emergency service personnel and dignitaries in attendance.
A minute silence will be observed at 2pm to remember those who lost their lives.
The annual cathedral service at St Philips will follow at 5pm, with prayers and hymns, led by the Bishop and Archbishop of Birmingham.
The service will be streamed on a screen outside for people to watch.
As well as the church service, the Library of Birmingham will be lit up this evening to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
Who were the victims of the pub bombings?
Seven women and 14 men died in the Birmingham pub bombings. Their names will be read out during today's service. We remember them:
Michael Beasley
Lynn Bennett
Stanley Bodman
James Caddick
Thomas Chaytor
James Craig
Paul Davies
Jane Davis
Charles Grey
Maxine Hambleton
Anne Hayes,
John "Cliff" Jones
Neil Marsh
Marilyn Nash
Pamela Palmer
Desmond Reilly
Eugene Reilly
Maureen Roberts
John Rowlands
Trevor Thrupp
Stephen Whalley
You can listen to our special podcast series - No Justice: The Birmingham Pub Bombings at 50 - now on the Rayo app.
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