Murder of Kenneth Salvesen


Kenneth Salvesen was an American man who was killed in an IRA bombing in London.

Harrods bombing

Salvesen was a twenty-eight-year-old business consultant from Chicago. He was one of six people killed by the IRA Harrods bombing in London, December 1983. Ninety people were injured. Among the latter group was " Severely injured... Irish American, Mark McDonald from Michigan. He was later visited by Prince Charles and Lady Diana in hospital."

Claims by Peter King

In 2011, Salvesen's death was the source of controversy over remarks by New York Congressman Peter T. King, a supporter of the IRA and Sinn Féin. Congressman King claimed that "the difference between the IRA and Al Qaeda is that the IRA never killed Americans."
The Denver Post reminded its readers of King's previous statements "We must pledge ourselves to support those brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry", while three years later he said: "If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the IRA for it."