05/11/2003
Fawkes plotters could have devastated central London: study
The Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot could have levelled Westminster, its Abbey and caused serious damage to buildings up to half a kilometre distant, had it been successful, researchers at a Welsh university have claimed today.
Physicists from the Centre for Explosion Studies at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, have projected the damage that could have been caused to central London in November 1605 had it not been betrayed.
The university researchers have estimated that streets up to one third of a mile from the centre of the palace of Westminster would have suffered severe structural damage and windows would have shattered up to a kilometre away from the centre.
Guy Fawkes' intention was blow up Parliament when James 1 entered the building later that day, and in doing so hope to welcome the return of a Catholic monarchy. However, he was discovered, arrested and held in the Tower of London for two months. Most of the conspirators were subsequently hung, drawn and quartered in January 1606.
Explosion physicists believe that the 2,500kg of gunpowder the conspirators packed into a cellar under the old Westminster hall would be approximately equal to the same amount of TNT today.
This, they say, would create a blast which would cause severe structural damage to buildings up to about 490m (about one-third of a mile) from the centre of the explosion.
Modern engineers have suggested that Fawkes, who was expert in the use of gunpowder through his service in the army, had packed around 25 times more explosive than would have necessary to destroy Westminster.
Dr Geraint Thomas, head of the Centre for Explosion Studies in the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at Aberystwyth, said: "Gunpowder is generally not as strong as TNT, and the explosives were hidden in buildings, so the ‘safe radius’ should be a little bit less that predicted, due to the reduction of total energy of the explosive and the energy absorbed by the walls when the bomb went off.
"However, Guy Fawkes was an expert in explosives and so knew what he was doing – if he had the gunpowder confined in barrels and well packed in it could have been almost as powerful as the equivilent TNT explosion so this is a fairly good model.”
(gmcg)
Physicists from the Centre for Explosion Studies at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, have projected the damage that could have been caused to central London in November 1605 had it not been betrayed.
The university researchers have estimated that streets up to one third of a mile from the centre of the palace of Westminster would have suffered severe structural damage and windows would have shattered up to a kilometre away from the centre.
Guy Fawkes' intention was blow up Parliament when James 1 entered the building later that day, and in doing so hope to welcome the return of a Catholic monarchy. However, he was discovered, arrested and held in the Tower of London for two months. Most of the conspirators were subsequently hung, drawn and quartered in January 1606.
Explosion physicists believe that the 2,500kg of gunpowder the conspirators packed into a cellar under the old Westminster hall would be approximately equal to the same amount of TNT today.
This, they say, would create a blast which would cause severe structural damage to buildings up to about 490m (about one-third of a mile) from the centre of the explosion.
Modern engineers have suggested that Fawkes, who was expert in the use of gunpowder through his service in the army, had packed around 25 times more explosive than would have necessary to destroy Westminster.
Dr Geraint Thomas, head of the Centre for Explosion Studies in the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at Aberystwyth, said: "Gunpowder is generally not as strong as TNT, and the explosives were hidden in buildings, so the ‘safe radius’ should be a little bit less that predicted, due to the reduction of total energy of the explosive and the energy absorbed by the walls when the bomb went off.
"However, Guy Fawkes was an expert in explosives and so knew what he was doing – if he had the gunpowder confined in barrels and well packed in it could have been almost as powerful as the equivilent TNT explosion so this is a fairly good model.”
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
12 June 2015
Body Found Following Explosion in Co Durham
A body of a man has been recovered from a house in Darlington, Co Durham, following an explosion. It is understood that fire crews were called after a suspected explosion caused a fire at a property on Lewes Road at about 02:50 on Friday morning. The body was found by firefighters after they entered the building.
Body Found Following Explosion in Co Durham
A body of a man has been recovered from a house in Darlington, Co Durham, following an explosion. It is understood that fire crews were called after a suspected explosion caused a fire at a property on Lewes Road at about 02:50 on Friday morning. The body was found by firefighters after they entered the building.
18 April 2007
Iraq bombs leave more than 150 dead
More than 150 people have been killed in a series of bomb blasts in Iraq. In the deadliest attack, at least 115 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in a market in Sadriyah. An hour before that blast, at least 30 people were killed in what is believed to have been an attack by a suicide bomber in a car at a police checkpoint in Sadr City.
Iraq bombs leave more than 150 dead
More than 150 people have been killed in a series of bomb blasts in Iraq. In the deadliest attack, at least 115 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in a market in Sadriyah. An hour before that blast, at least 30 people were killed in what is believed to have been an attack by a suicide bomber in a car at a police checkpoint in Sadr City.
23 September 2005
Suspected bomber remanded in custody
Suspect bomber Hussain Osman has been remanded in custody following a court appearance on Friday morning. Amid tight security Mr Osman, 27, appeared before Bow Street Magistrates court sitting at Belmarsh prison. He was charged with seven offences including the attempted murder of passengers on a Tube train at Shepherd's Bush on July 21.
Suspected bomber remanded in custody
Suspect bomber Hussain Osman has been remanded in custody following a court appearance on Friday morning. Amid tight security Mr Osman, 27, appeared before Bow Street Magistrates court sitting at Belmarsh prison. He was charged with seven offences including the attempted murder of passengers on a Tube train at Shepherd's Bush on July 21.
02 November 2010
Many Injured In Salford 'Gas Explosion'
A suspected gas blast in Greater Manchester has left 15 people injured Emergency services were called to Silver Street in Irlam, Salford shortly after 7am this morning, following reports of an explosion. Four houses were destroyed in the blast, which ripped through the terraced house in the street.
Many Injured In Salford 'Gas Explosion'
A suspected gas blast in Greater Manchester has left 15 people injured Emergency services were called to Silver Street in Irlam, Salford shortly after 7am this morning, following reports of an explosion. Four houses were destroyed in the blast, which ripped through the terraced house in the street.
05 October 2010
Dissidents Claim Car Bomb Attack
The Real IRA has claimed responsibility for an explosion in Derry in the early hours, which caused substantial damage to a shopping centre. Speaking in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference, Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, has accused the group of trying to drag the city back to its violent past.
Dissidents Claim Car Bomb Attack
The Real IRA has claimed responsibility for an explosion in Derry in the early hours, which caused substantial damage to a shopping centre. Speaking in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference, Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, has accused the group of trying to drag the city back to its violent past.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.