The effects of the previous 1973 Old Bailey bombing appeared to give some credence to the idea of the propaganda value of extending violence into London as , although it would have been considered almost routine in Northern Ireland by the mid-1970s and have drawn only brief media notice , being carried out instead in London , a global capital city , had made the event world news headlines . However , although the bombing of the Old Bailey had been successfully carried out , and had gained media attention , increasing political pressure upon the British Government to address the issue of the conflict in Northern Ireland with more urgency , it had been costly to the IRA , as 10 out of the 11 man Active Service Unit that had carried it out had been arrested by the British police whilst trying to leave England before the bombs they had planted detonated . Drawing the tactical lesson that large teams were a security liability , for the second wave of bombings in England later in 1973 , instead of sending a large team to carry it out with orders to withdraw back to Ireland immediately afterwards , smaller detached " cell " units of about 3-4 personnel were sent to carry out the operation , with instructions to remain in England afterwards and wage a campaign of bombings around England upon a variety of targets
1973 Old Bailey bombing
1973 Old Bailey bombing
Bombings of King's Cross and Euston stations