Widow returns to store for IRA bomb memorial
THE WIDOW of one of the six people killed when an IRA bomb exploded outside Harrods in London 35 years ago said “it broke my heart forever” as she marked the anniversary.
Karen Salvesen-Sykes, whose husband Kenneth Salvesen was killed in the attack, returned to the UK for yesterday’s memorial event.
She said: “I think it’s important to come and stand with the other people who went through that experience, to honour him, to let people remember and show that we don’t forget, and that these things matter, so hopefully it won’t happen again.”
Six people were killed and 90 injured when a car bomb ripped through the Hans Crescent entrance to the department store on December 17 1983 at 1.30pm.
Three Metropolitan Police
I it was just unbelievable, really, it broke my heart forever Karen Salvesen-Sykes, whose husband died in the bombing.
officers – Inspector Stephen Dodd, 34, Sergeant Noel Lane, 28, and Pc Jane Arbuthnot 22 – were killed along with a police dog, Queenie.
Three members of the public – Kenneth Salvesen, 28, Jasmine Cochrane Patrick, 25, and Philip Geddes, 25 – were also killed.
Mrs Salvesen-Sykes arrived at Heathrow Airport from the US on December 18 1983 with their four-year-old son to spend Christmas with her husband, but Mr Salvesen, who was working in London, was not there to meet them. Mrs Salvesen-Sykes said: “It was quite unreal and just to think back on it, it was just unbelievable, really, it broke my heart forever.”
Superintendent Mark Lawrence, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, said the “face of terrorism” may have changed since the attack but the repercussions remain the same.