' Bloody Friday ' was the IRA 's response to the breakdown of the talks . According to the IRA 's Chief of Staff , Seán Mac Stíofáin , the main goal of the bombing operation was to wreak financial harm . It was a " message to the British government that the IRA could and would make a commercial desert of the city unless its demands were met " . Some also saw it as a reprisal for Bloody Sunday in Derry six months earlier . The attack was carried out by the IRA 's Belfast Brigade and the main organiser was Brendan Hughes , the brigade 's Officer Commanding
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Bloody Friday (1972)