Peter Pettigrew's unidentified victims

These murder victims were a group of twelve Muggles killed by an explosion deliberately caused by Peter Pettigrew on October 31, 1981.

After betraying the Potters, Pettigrew was pursued by Sirius Black, and was eventually cornered by him on a crowded street. Pettigrew then loudly accused Black of betraying the Potters, created an explosion, and escaped, leaving behind a finger he had cut off to fake his death. This explosion claimed the lives of twelve Muggles and left a deep crater in the street. Surviving Muggle witnesses reported what Pettigrew said to Ministry of Magic officials. Thus framed, Black was imprisoned in Azkaban without trial.

The Ministry of Magic had difficulty covering up this event given the extent of the damage and the number of Muggle casualties. They erased the memories of surviving Muggle witnesses and disseminated the story that the explosion had been caused by a leak in a gas main.

It was not until 1993 that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger proved Black was innocent. However, the Ministry of Magic didn't believe them, and considered Black guilty until after his death in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries on June 17, 1996.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)