The Harry Potter Compendium
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The attack on London was a minor conflict that took place on 24 June, 1996, during the Second Wizarding War, in which a small group of Death Eaters led by Fenrir Greyback Apparated into London, stormed into Diagon Alley and destroyed several establishments, and then proceeded to tear the Millennium Bridge down.

The attack[]

Diagon Alley[]

File:Death Eaters at Diagon Alley HBP.jpg

Garrick Ollivander is kidnapped.

On the day of the attack, the Dark Mark appeared over London and, moments later, the small group of Death Eaters stormed through Charing Cross Road and the Leaky Cauldron, and broke into Diagon Alley.[2] For as of yet unknown reasons, they ransacked Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, killing Florean Fortescue himself.[3] They also assaulted Ollivanders Wand Shop and the wandmaker chose to come with them quietly; no signs of struggle were left to be found.[4] Taking stacks of wands to arm their fast growing legions with them, the Death Eaters proceeded to quickly Disapparate.[2]

Millennium Bridge[]

File:Death Eaters destroyed the Millennium Bridge.gif

The destruction of the Millennium Bridge.

They Apparated back into Muggle London, heading to Millennium Bridge. They flew around the bridge in a spiral motion to create a twisting and buckling movement on the bridge walkway.[5] The cables snapping, the bridge undulated and twisted intensely, pulling free of its piers, ultimately splitting in half and crashing violently into the Thames below, killing some Muggles who were crossing the bridge at the time.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. According to Harry Potter Limited Edition - A Guide to the Graphic Arts Department (see this image), The Guardian reported, on 5 July, that the collapse of the Millennium Bridge had taken place 11 days prior — 11 days before 5 July is 24 June.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) - Chapter 1
  3. PotterCast Interview with J.K. Rowling
  4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 6 (Draco's Detour)
  5. Inside the New Harry Potter Movie's VFX Tech at Popular Mechanics.
  6. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film), a headline on the Daily Prophet is visible stating: "Bridge Collapse: Death Toll Rises"
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