27 May 2023, Mumbai: Recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents have revealed a shocking assassination plot against Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the United States in 1983. The FBI files, made public after the Queen’s passing last year, shed light on the potential threat posed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during her trip.
According to reports, an American police officer, a regular patron at an Irish pub in San Francisco, alerted federal agents about a man who sought revenge for his daughter’s death in Northern Ireland. The threat was made on February 4, 1983, just weeks before Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were scheduled to visit California. Alternatively, the attacker considered targeting the Queen during her visit to Yosemite National Park. In response to the threat, the Secret Service planned to close off walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge as the yacht approached. However, the exact measures taken remain unclear, and no arrests were made. Despite the potential danger, the royal visit proceeded as planned.
The FBI’s release of a 102-page document, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, has providedinsights into the security concerns surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s visits to the US. The report also mentioned prior warnings of possible attacks by IRA sympathizers during a visit in 1981. These assassination threats occurred during a period of heightened tensions due to the conflict in Northern Ireland. The report emphasized that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) posed an ongoing threat to the British Monarchy, as demonstrated by the tragic assassination of the Queen’s second cousin, Lord Mountbatten, in 1979 when his boat was targeted with explosives in the Republic of Ireland.
The newly released FBI documents serve as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect high-profile figures, and the challenges faced by security agencies in thwarting such threats. Fortunately, in this instance, the assassination plot against Queen Elizabeth II was prevented, allowing her visit to the United States to proceed safely.