Recently released FBI records shed light on a potential threat against Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to San Francisco in 1983. The documents show that a police officer, who frequented an Irish pub, alerted federal agents about a threat made by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) sympathizer seeking revenge for the death of his daughter. While the threat did not materialize, the records highlight the persistent danger posed by the IRA and its sympathizers during the Queen’s visits to the United States.
The Threat and Police Warning:
According to a confidential FBI teletype, an unidentified San Francisco police officer received a phone call on February 4, 1983, from a patron of an Irish pub. The caller, claiming that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet, expressed a desire to harm Queen Elizabeth. He mentioned two potential methods: dropping an object from the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia as it passed underneath or attempting to kill the Queen during her visit to Yosemite National Park.
The Released FBI Records:
Following Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing on September 8, the FBI publicly released 102 pages of records about her visits to the United States, dating back to 1976. These records, available on The Vault, the FBI’s public website, primarily consist of internal communications, itineraries, press clippings, and other documents related to the Queen’s visits. While some sections are heavily redacted, the records highlight the ongoing concerns surrounding the IRA and its sympathizers as potential threats during the Queen’s visits.
Persistent IRA Threats:
The FBI records demonstrate regular collaboration between the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, local police agencies, and other law enforcement entities to address potential IRA violence targeting the royal family during these visits. The fears were not unfounded, as in 1979, Lord “Dickie” Mountbatten, a close confidant of Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth’s second cousin, was killed in an IRA bombing in Ireland. The FBI remained vigilant regarding potential threats, requesting that law enforcement agencies in Boston and New York stay alert for IRA-related dangers.
Monitoring and Preparing for Protests:
The FBI relied on published news articles and maintained communication with local police agencies and “assets” within protest groups to gather information about planned demonstrations during the Queen’s visits. The records indicate a proactive approach in identifying potential threats and taking preventive measures to ensure the safety of the Queen and other dignitaries. While some articles were inflammatory, the FBI did not indicate any arrests made specifically for politically motivated violence or plots against the Queen during her visits.
Addressing the 1983 Threat:
Regarding the threat made in 1983 to drop an object onto the Queen’s yacht, the FBI memo disclosed that the Secret Service planned to close the walkways on the Golden Gate Bridge as a precautionary measure. The records suggest a collaborative effort to mitigate potential incidents that could have embarrassed both President Reagan and Queen Elizabeth during their respective visits.
screw the FBI, THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB, they are Citizens worst enemy.
Yea right But WHO can trust the FBI They are mafia and may have been in on action against here Like the CIA the FBI was in on taking out JFK and they have not changed.