Gibraltar Three: Difference between revisions
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===Operation Flavius=== | ===Operation Flavius=== | ||
From late 1987, British authorities in the Gibraltar territory had suspected that the | From late 1987, British authorities in the Gibraltar territory had suspected that the IRA were planning to attack the changing of the Governor of Gibraltar's guard by bombing the car park where the ceremony took place. A known IRA member had been observed watching the ceremony several times, and three high-ranking IRA operatives - Seán Savage, Daniel McCann and Mairéad Farrell - had been detected travelling to Spain under false identities. In response, British and Gibraltarian authorities launched Operation Flavius, a military surveillance operation to observe and apprehend the three before they could launch their attack. | ||
In late February 1988, Savage, McCann and Farrell travelled to the Spanish city of Málaga (90 miles from Gibraltar) and each rented three cars. By early March, authorities were convinced the attack was imminent and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher personally approved the deployment of an SAS team to Gibraltar to assist the Gibraltar territorial police in arresting the suspects. | In late February 1988, Savage, McCann and Farrell travelled to the Spanish city of Málaga (90 miles from Gibraltar) and each rented three cars. By early March, authorities were convinced the attack was imminent and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher personally approved the deployment of an SAS team to Gibraltar to assist the Gibraltar territorial police in arresting the suspects. |