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IRA had plot to kidnap us: Bono
Superstar tells of Provo plan to snatch U2 in his new book
By Deborah McAleese
Bono and other members of U2 were targets of an audacious IRA kidnapping plot, the superstar has claimed.
In his new book Bono: In Conversation With Michka Assayas, the star claims paramilitaries hatched a plan to kidnap him and fellow members of the band in the 1980s.
Bono says he believes the plot was organised to try and silence the group following their outspoken criticism of terrorism both in Ireland and America, where republicans were involved in lucrative fund-raising.
Bono claims that the plot was taken "very seriously" by British intelligence and police insisted on taking fingerprints and toeprints from each member of U2 in case they went missing.
He says he believes the kidnap plot was prompted after U2 began touring the US in the 80s.
During that time the band tried to "dry up funds" for the IRA in America and Bono says this probably antagonised the terrorist organisation.
The superstar has had a few brushes with terrorists and IRA supporters over the years, which he claims probably sparked his hatred for terrorism.
He narrowly escaped death when a loyalist car bomb exploded in Dublin city centre on May 17, 1974.
The singer had just left one of his favourite coffee shops in Marlborough Street when the bomb exploded close by just minutes later.
In the book he says: "One day, 15 minutes after I left, the street was blown to pieces. It was a bomb outside. It was a close call."
A few years later he got caught up in an angry confrontation with a group of republican thugs when the mob tried to smash the windows of his car.
He says: "Once, our car was surrounded by a bunch of Provo supporters. One had the Tricolour around his fist trying to smash the windows of the car with his bare hands screaming: 'Brits! Traitors!'"
© 2005 Independent News and Media (NI)
a division of Independent News & media (UK) Ltd
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=629578
Superstar tells of Provo plan to snatch U2 in his new book
By Deborah McAleese
Bono and other members of U2 were targets of an audacious IRA kidnapping plot, the superstar has claimed.
In his new book Bono: In Conversation With Michka Assayas, the star claims paramilitaries hatched a plan to kidnap him and fellow members of the band in the 1980s.
Bono says he believes the plot was organised to try and silence the group following their outspoken criticism of terrorism both in Ireland and America, where republicans were involved in lucrative fund-raising.
Bono claims that the plot was taken "very seriously" by British intelligence and police insisted on taking fingerprints and toeprints from each member of U2 in case they went missing.
He says he believes the kidnap plot was prompted after U2 began touring the US in the 80s.
During that time the band tried to "dry up funds" for the IRA in America and Bono says this probably antagonised the terrorist organisation.
The superstar has had a few brushes with terrorists and IRA supporters over the years, which he claims probably sparked his hatred for terrorism.
He narrowly escaped death when a loyalist car bomb exploded in Dublin city centre on May 17, 1974.
The singer had just left one of his favourite coffee shops in Marlborough Street when the bomb exploded close by just minutes later.
In the book he says: "One day, 15 minutes after I left, the street was blown to pieces. It was a bomb outside. It was a close call."
A few years later he got caught up in an angry confrontation with a group of republican thugs when the mob tried to smash the windows of his car.
He says: "Once, our car was surrounded by a bunch of Provo supporters. One had the Tricolour around his fist trying to smash the windows of the car with his bare hands screaming: 'Brits! Traitors!'"
© 2005 Independent News and Media (NI)
a division of Independent News & media (UK) Ltd
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=629578