Birmingham pub bombings: lack of justice "hugely regrettable" says police boss
21 people were killed on 21 November 1974 when two bombs went off in city centre pubs
West Midlands Police has said the fact that no-one has been held to account for the Birmingham pub bombings, 50 years on, is "hugely regrettable".
Bombs went off in two pubs, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town, on 21 November 1974, killing 21 people and injuring 220 others.
Thought to have been carried out by the Provisional IRA, it remains the largest unsolved mass murder in British history.
On the eve on the 50th anniversary of the attack, one of Birmingham's top police bosses has reaffirmed the force's commitment to pursuing any new evidence.
Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said: "The fact that we've not been able to bring offenders to justice is hugely regrettable, and therefore we will always commit to seeking to be able to support that.
"As it stands at the moment, we haven't got open lines of enquiry. We pursued all those lines of enquiry that we've had opportunity to beforehand, and we've presented evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service but sadly that hasn't resulted in charges as we may have hoped."
"Huge failings of original investigation have had lasting ramifications"
Families of those killed in the pub bombings have long accused the authorities of a cover-up, following the quashing of the convictions of the Birmingham Six in 1991.
Putting those concerns to him, ACC Barratt told us: "The sad fact is that the huge failings of that original investigation have had lasting ramifications, and sadly the passage of time until that was understood has added to the challenges in our ability to now be able to investigate, and in reality, bring offenders to justice.
"For those of us serving now, that's hugely regrettable. And what I'm absolutely committed to is to continue seeking to work to rebuild trust and confidence with those who have been affected."
On calls for a public enquiry
Families of the victims, led by campaign group Justice4the21, want a full public inquiry into what happened.
Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the Tavern in the Town, said: “Grenfell, the Manchester Arena bombings, the blood scandal, the Post Office and now, recently, the Salisbury Poisonings.
“Why can’t we have a public inquiry? For 21 people who lived – and were killed – in Birmingham?
“There is always the opportunity for justice no matter how long it takes. Even if all the perpetrators are all dead, there is still the opportunity for justice because the truth will then be out.”
On calls for a public inquiry, ACC Barratt added: "That's a matter for politicians to consider and determine, and we'll do everything we can to support those considerations.
"If it was determined that it was appropriate to conduct a public inquiry, we'd be absolutely committed to support that inquiry, and be open and transparent in ensuring that all the material we have would be provided to support the considerations."
You can listen to our podcast - No Justice: The Birmingham Pub Bombings at 50 - now on the Rayo app.