Twenty-seven years ago today, on August 16, 1998 (June 25, 1998 lunar calendar), a serious explosion occurred in Northern Ireland. On the afternoon of August 16, 1998, a serious car bomb exploded in the small town of Omagh, Northern Ireland, killing at least 28 people and injuring more than 200 others. This is the largest terrorist atrocity in Northern Ireland in nearly 30 years. According to the BBC, at about 3:10 pm local time, a car full of explosives exploded in the Omagh business district, killing 21 people on the spot. The death toll is still increasing because many people are seriously injured. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was on holiday in France, said after hearing the news that this was an appalling incident and that the British government would do its best to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. At present, he has interrupted his vacation to fly to Northern Ireland. Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, clearly condemned the bombing in a brief statement. So far no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing. The town of Omagh is about 110km west of Belfast. Yesterday coincided with a carnival in the town. Before the explosion, Northern Ireland Television had received a call from someone claiming to be the "Real IRA" from Ireland, saying that there would be an explosion in a courthouse not far from the commercial center. The police said that this misunderstanding added to the casualties caused by the explosion. The bombings have exacerbated the tensions that still exist between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, and will have a negative impact on the continued release of terrorist prisoners and the formation of local councils in Northern Ireland.