Bloody Sunday in maps

Click through this step-by-step guide to what happened on 30 January 1972 when 14 people were killed after soldiers fired on a civil rights march in Northern Ireland.

On 30 January 1972, 13 people were killed when soldiers from the British Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry. The day became known as Bloody Sunday.

About 10,000 people gather in Creggan area to march to the Guildhall for a rally organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to protest at internment without trial. The Stormont government had banned such protests.

Army barricades block marchers from the centre. They turn into Rossville Street. In William Street some throw stones at soldiers who respond with rubber bullets, CS gas and a water cannon. Two men are shot and wounded.

A unit of the 1st Batallion Parachute Regiment advances down William St and Rossville St with orders to arrest as many marchers as possible. At 16.10 the shooting begins.

After 25 minutes of shooting, 13 marchers have been killed and 13 wounded, one of whom later dies. The soldiers claimed they were fired upon first, but the marchers said the Army shot indiscriminately at unarmed civilians.

BACK {current} of {total} NEXT