Firebombers

Original version

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BBC History Channel

Factual

Factual: History

Documentary series looking at an arson campaign in Wales targeting English-owned homes

Documentary series looking into a controversial period in Welsh history when English-owned second homes were targeted by arsonists.

BBC One

BBC Two

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Mali Harries

James Hale

Steffan Morgan

Steve Robinson

Firebombers: Series 1: Episode 1

Documentaries

Episode 1

Series 1

BBC One - Firebombers, Series 1, Episode 1

1979. Four holiday homes in Wales are torched. A 13-year arson campaign begins.

It's 1979, and four holiday homes in Wales are torched in one night. It’s the beginning of an arson campaign. The story of Meibion Glyndwr told by those who were there.

It’s 1979, and a campaign of arson has begun in Wales. The targets are English-owned second homes that the attackers say are destroying Welsh culture. Over the next ten-plus years, well over 200 homes and businesses will be attacked, in Wales and beyond. 

Firebombers takes a comprehensive look into this significant and controversial period in Welsh history. Episode one begins with the first arson attacks in December 1979 – on two second homes in Pembrokeshire and two in north Wales. Three more are attacked the very next day in Blaenau Ffestiniog, with a total of 17 homes destroyed across west and north Wales within six weeks.

In response to the attacks, Dyfed-Powys and North Wales Police set up Firesquad, a specialist team of officers tasked with catching the firebombers. A BBC investigation for the Nationwide programme discovered several secret groups claiming responsibility for the attacks.

By 1986, the arson campaign would be identified as being by a secret organisation known as Meibion Glyndŵr, after letters claiming responsibility were sent to the media. Despite police efforts, whoever was masterminding the campaign seemed to have evaded capture. 

Archive footage is combined with new interviews with people from very different perspectives who were involved at the time. They include the police who investigated the cases, victims whose properties were burned down, journalists who covered the story, and people who were arrested.


Firebombers: Series 1

Documentary series looking into a controversial period in Welsh history.

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Firebombers

Series 1

Episode 1

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BBC History Channel