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April 2010 Baghdad bombings
Location Baghdad, Iraq
Date 23–24 April 2010 (UTC+4)
Target Mostly Shias
Attack type
coordinated bomb detonations
Deaths 85+
Non-fatal injuries
145+
Suspected perpetrators
Al-Qaeda in Iraq

The April 2010 Baghdad bombings were a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq that killed at least 85 people over two days.[1] Hundreds more were seriously wounded.[2]

The bombings[]

23 April attacks[]

On 23 April, over a two hour time span, a wave of coordinated bombings hit Shia Muslims leaving Friday prayers, Shiite neighbourhoods, and a market.[3][4] The attacks consisted of five car bombs, which accounted for 58 deaths, and approximately 13 bombs in total.[5][6] A car bomb outside the Abdel Hadi al-Chalabi mosque in Al-Hurriya killed five and wounded 14.[5] Three bombs, including two car bombs, in the Sadr City district of Baghdad occurred near the headquarters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, where followers gather for morning prayers every Friday.[5][7] The bombings killed at least 39 and wounded 56 others in Sadr City.[5] A car bomb and a suicide bomber in the Al-Ameen district in east Baghdad killed 11 worshipers leaving a Shiite mosque after prayers and wounded 23 additional people.[5][6] "Why do they always target us? We are peaceful people. We come to pray and then go on our way," remarked one angry survivor.[6]

Five homemade bombs were also detonated in the predominately Sunni Anbar Province killing seven and injuring 11.[7] A police officer responding to the bombings was killed by a roadside bomb.[7] A cluster of houses was damaged in the attack.[7] According to NPR correspondent Quill Lawrence, the bombs were targeted at a police detective and a judge living in the area, both of whom survived.[8] Late on 24 April, the official death toll from the Friday attacks stood at 72.[1] Around 120 people were wounded.[6]

Continued violence[]

On 24 April, 13 additional people were killed when three bombs were detonated in Western Baghdad.[1][9] The three bombs, which were hidden in plastic bags, injured 25 additional people.[1] The three bombs exploded simultaneously in a billiard hall located in a mixed Sunni-Shiite neighbourhood.[1]

Perpetrators and aftermath[]

Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and other officials have blamed Al-Qaeda in Iraq for the bombing attacks.[1] The attacks were widely seen as retribution for the killings of two top Al-Qaeda officials the previous Sunday.[1][6] Security spokesperson Qassim al-Moussawi stated that "targeting prayers in areas with a [Shiite] majority is a revenge for the losses suffered by al Qaeda."[6] Iraqi political analyst Hameed Fadhel agreed, saying, "These are acts of revenge that are intended to send a message to the Iraqi government and the world that al-Qaida's existence will not be affected by the killing of specific leaders."[6] No one has officially claimed responsibility.[1] The government expects "such terrorist acts to continue."[6]

After the attacks, Muqtada al-Sadr offered to "Iraqi security forces to fight insurgents", sparking fear that he might be considering a revival of his Mahdi Army militia.[1] Al-Sadr's aides claimed that he had no such plans.[1] He urged his followers to remain calm and not provoke the United States, but added that he was prepared to have "hundreds of believers" join the Iraqi army and police forces.[1] "The government might ask the help of individual citizens, not from armed groups," presidential aid Ali al-Adeeb responded.[1]

On Friday and Saturday, citizens of the Sadr City enclave of Baghdad took to the streets for at least six separate funeral processions.[1][10] Many of the victims were carried to the holy city of Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the south.[10] Some of the mourners supported the idea of reviving the Mahdi Army. "They can provide security. The government cannot," remarked one citizen.[1]

See also[]


References[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Jakes, Lara (24 April 2010). "Iraq bombings raise specter of Shiite militia". Google. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100428205228/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD9F9NSB00. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
  2. "Dozens killed in Baghdad in 'revenge al-Qaeda attacks'". BBC News. BBC. 23 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8639223.stm. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  3. Fordham, Alice (23 April 2010). "Wave of bombs in Baghdad kills 58". The Times. News International. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article7106632.ece. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  4. Juhi, Bushra (23 April 2010). "Bombs kill 60 in Iraq days after al-Qaida killings". Google. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100426232537/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD9F8SPU80. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Five car bombs kill 58". The Sydney Mourning Herald. 25 April 2010. http://www.smh.com.au/world/five-car-bombs-kill-58-20100424-tkin.html. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Mohammad, Muhanad (24 April 2010). "Bombings leave 56 people dead in Iraqi capital". Vancouver Sun. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Bombings+leave+people+dead+Iraqi+capital/2946471/story.html. Retrieved 25 April 2010. [dead link]
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Myers, Steven Lee; Adnan, Duraid (24 April 2010). "Bombs kill 69 as Iraq faces recount, al-Qaida threat". The New York Times and The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011689081_iraq24.html. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
  8. James, Frank (23 April 2010). "Iraq Bombings Kill At Least 56 In Shiite Areas". NPR. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/04/iraq_bombings_kill_at_least_56.html. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  9. Santana, Rebecca (24 April 2010). "6 killed by blasts in western Baghdad". Google. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD9F9KSR80. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "IShiites bury victims of Baghdad mosque bombings". Google. 24 April 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD9F99SDO0. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
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