Des McAlea and Stephen Travers heard two of the gunmen rummaging in the back of the minibus, where they both kept their respective instruments. Concerned they might be damaged, McAlea first approached the two gunmen and asked if he could remove his saxophone. When they agreed he placed it on the ground, opened its case and then went back into line; however this time he stood first in the line-up closest to the minibus when previously he had been third. Travers also stepped up to the gunmen and told them to be careful with his guitar. Asked whether he had anything valuable inside the case, Travers replied no. The gunman turned him round, punched him hard in the back and pushed him on the shoulder back into the line-up. Meanwhile, two other gunmen at the front of the minibus were placing the briefcase containing the bomb under the driver's seat.