mortar shell. 7 December: In Glengormley, North Belfast, three masked men driving a stolen car parked outside a prison officer's house. One of the assailants got out and shot at the off-duty officer but missed. The car was abandoned in Oldpark, Belfast. 7 December: IRA volunteers threw two hand grenades from a car at two RUCR officers who were on security barrier duty in Kildare Street, Belfast. They managed to kick the grenades away before they exploded, immediately after which shots were fired from another car but missed. The vehicles escaped into the nationalist Derrybeg estate. 11 December 1976: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in the Bogside, Derry. 15 December 1976: A RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA unit while manning a security barrier in Portadown. 1977 1 January 1977: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Crossmaglen. The IRA also carried out a carbomb attack at Harmin Park, Newtownabbey. A civilian was killed after an inadequate warning was given. 9 January 1977. A British soldier was killed in an IRA booby trap bomb attack on his patrol near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh. 11 January 1977: A British soldier was shot dead by an IRA sniper at a security barrier in the Oldpark area of Belfast. 14 January 1977: An RUC officer was killed in an IRA bomb attack in Inishrush, County Londonderry. 16 January 1977: An IRA volunteer was shot dead by undercover British soldiers near Crossmaglen, County Armagh. 19 January 1977: A number of IRA booby trap bombs targeted security force members. 27 January 1977: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA unit on the Strand Road in Derry. 29 January 1977: Seven IRA bombs explode in Londons West End. Warnings are given and there are no casualties. 2 February 1977: Jeffery Agate (59), then Managing Director of the American Du Pont factory in Derry was shot dead by IRA volunteers outside his home at Talbot Park, Derry. This killing marked the beginning of a series of attacks on businessmen. There were further killings on 2 March 1977 and 14 March 1977. 4 February 1977: An IRA bomb factory is discovered by police in Liverpool, England. 5 February 1977: An RUC officer was shot dead by an IRA sniper while on patrol in Gilford, County Down. 12 February 1977: An RUC officer was