20 years since the Manchester bombing

20 years ago today the IRA set off a bomb in the centre of Manchester, destroying the heart of the city. But even though names of suspects were widely published and counter terrorism officers had a prime suspect, no-one was ever arrested. Now, the case is being re-assessed. So why have the bombers never been caught?

Watch our second report this week marking 20 years since the IRA detonated a bomb in the centre of Manchester

Today our correspondent Mel Barham looks at how the city went from bomb to Boom

On 15 June 1996 a bomb planted by the IRA tore through Manchester city centre.

The 3,000lb device was detonated near the Arndale Centre - where more than 80,000 people had been enjoying a sunny, Saturday morning.

Thanks to a remarkable evacuation, nobody was killed.

But the blast left behind a scene of devastation and hundreds were injured.

Some survivors, located just yards from the explosion, survived by luck alone.

Rob Smith has been meet them:

Twenty years after the IRA bombing of Manchester city centre police say they are to look again at the evidence and try again to catch whoever was responsible. The attack close to the Arndale Centre left two hundred people injured but no-one has ever been charged. The twentieth anniversary of the explosion will be marked on June 15th.

It's almost 20 years since an IRA bomb devastated Manchester city centre back in June 1996.

And now a new play inspired by the memories of residents about that day is coming to the stage.

On Corporation Street is named after the street on which the bomb was planted.

Tim Scott has been to find out more.

A group of young people will premier a documentary they've made about the IRA's bombing of Manchester.

The film, called "Our Manchester Ourselves" was produced by youths from the the Factory Youth Zone in Harpurhey - many of whom were not even born when the city centre was attacked almost 20 years ago on 15 June 1996.

The 45-minute film features interviews with victims, ex-police officers, City Council representatives and an ex-IRA member and includes footage from the Granada Television archive.

The film will be distributed to 31 secondary schools across Manchester to encourage young people's understanding of their home city's heritage.

Click to read more about the research conducted by the young people for "Our Manchester Ourselves".