HUNGERFORD — 1987 · Major Tragedy
Hungerford Massacre
On 19 August 1987 a 27-year-old man opened fire first in Savernake Forest and then in the streets of the market town of Hungerford, killing 16 people, among them his own mother and an unarmed police officer, and wounding 15 others. After hours of violence he took his own life at his former school, John O'Gaunt. All of the weapons he used were legally licensed. The official review could establish no motive. The massacre led to the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, which largely banned civilian ownership of semi-automatic centre-fire rifles in Britain.
- Date
- 1987
- Place
- Berkshire, England, Hungerford, UK
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 51.4146, -1.5150 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 19 August 1987The gunman carried out the first attack in Savernake Forest, then moved into Hungerford.
- 19 August 198716 people were killed and 15 wounded; the gunman killed himself at John O'Gaunt School.
- 1988The Firearms (Amendment) Act restricted semi-automatic rifles.
- 1988Tens of thousands of firearms were handed in during the amnesty that followed.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Hungerford massacre en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Berkshire Live — Looking back at the Hungerford massacre getreading.co.uk ↗
- Wikipedia
- Berkshire Live
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.