Manchester IRA bomb: Unseen images of blast aftermath Published duration 16 June 2014

image copyright Gmfrs image caption The bomb exploded in Manchester on 15 June 1996

Unseen photographs of the aftermath of the IRA bomb which went off in Manchester city centre 18 years ago have been published online.

The negatives of the 69 photographs, which were taken by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, were recently found in their archives.

They show the effects of the explosion near the Arndale Centre on 15 June 1996.

No-one died, but many were injured and buildings were severely damaged.

image copyright Gmfrs image caption The explosion caused damage to buildings along Corporation Street

image copyright Gmfrs image caption The 3,300lb bomb was the second biggest ever to explode on mainland Britain

image copyright Gmfrs image caption No-one was killed, but more than 200 people were injured by the effects of the blast

image copyright Gmfrs image caption Some buildings were so badly damaged by the explosion that they had to be demolished

image copyright Gmfrs image caption It was the last IRA bomb of its size on the British mainland

image copyright Gmfrs image caption A remote-controlled device was examining a suspect van when it blew up

The bomb was the second biggest to have exploded on mainland Britain, weighing 3,300lb.

It went off on the same day that England played Scotland at Wembley in the Euro 96 football tournament.