Crazed gunman who tried to kidnap Princess Anne

[snokitty]

Crazed gunman who tried to kidnap Princess Anne: At least the Royal Family will be safer thanks to me | Daily Mail Online

The fanatical loner who tried to kidnap Princess Anne believed he ought to be thanked for highlighting serious flaws in Royal security.

Ian Ball, who ambushed the Princess's car en route to Buckingham Palace on March 20, 1974, said the police realising that the Royal Family needed better security was the 'one good thing' to come out of his 'audacious' crime.

Ball seeks to justify his actions in police files which were supposed to remain classified until 2048 but which have been obtained by The Mail on Sunday following a seven-month Freedom of Information battle.

In his interrogation after being arrested, the then 26-year-old told police: 'I suppose I'll be locked up for the rest of my life. I am only sorry I frightened Princess Anne. There is one good thing coming out of this: you will have to improve on her protection.'

The interview transcript provides new insights into a crime that shocked Britain. Princess Anne was 23 and had celebrated her marriage to first husband Captain Mark Phillips only months before.

The couple were returning from a charity event when Ball used his Ford Escort to force their car to stop on The Mall.

Ball shot and wounded the Princess's driver Alexander Callender and Inspector James Beaton, a Royal protection officer whose gun jammed as he confronted the attacker.

Ball demanded that the Princess get out of the car but she told him: 'Not bloody likely.'

The would-be kidnapper told police that he thought she would be an easy target and that he had learned her movements simply by telephoning the Buckingham Palace press office.

He said: 'I had thought about it for years... She would have been the easiest. I have seen her riding with her husband.'

Well he sure was wrong about her being the easy one.   :wink:

[TLLK]

^^^Absolutely true!!!!! :nod: