Deadly attacks target Baghdad and Anbar

By Mohammed al-Qaisi in Baghdad and Ali al-Juboori in Anbar
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-04-23

[Ahmad al-Rubaey/AFP/Getty Images] Iraqis across the country were outraged at the latest terrorist acts.

A series of co-ordinated attacks rocked Baghdad and the city of al-Khalidyah in Anbar Friday morning (April 23rd), leaving at least 57 civilians dead and more than a hundred wounded, Iraqi officials said.

The attacks targeted mosques, husseiniyahs, commercial stores and residences.

"These bombings are a hysterical reaction by al-Qaeda in the wake of the arrests and killings of their leaders," Baghdad Operations Command spokesperson Gen. Qassim Atta said.

Atta said that four car bombs exploded in quick succession in the areas of al-Hurriyah, al-Ameen, al-Sadr City, and al-Rahmaniyah, killing 54 people and wounding 180 others.

The first blast targeted citizens attending Friday prayers at Husseiniyat al-Jalabi in al-Hurriyah al-Thaniyah in northwest Baghdad. Five people were killed and five others were reportedly wounded. In addition, a nearby apartment building and house were burned.

The second blast – an improvised explosive device -- targeted a store in al-Souk area of al-Dorra, south of the capital, injuring three civilians.

Two car bombs then exploded in al-Sadr City, one near an office of the Sadrist Movement and the other at a popular market. The two attacks killed 30 people and wounded 55 others.

Three other car bombs and a hand grenade exploded in al-Hurriyah, al-Ameen, and al-Rahmaniyah, targeting mosques and crowded markets, killing 13 people and wounding 35 others.

Following the bombings, Iraqi forces implemented strict measures to prevent further attacks, and managed to defuse nine improvised explosive devices in al-Zafaraniyah and al-Maamel.

Security officials attributed the attacks as al-Qaeda's revenge for the losses the terrorist organisation sustained in the past few days.

"We expect a rise in the number of terrorist attacks in an ineffective way in the upcoming period as a result of al-Qaeda's attempt to compensate for their losses," Atta said. "However, they will not be able to continue for long."

Maj. Waleed Sabbar of Baghdad Police Command in al-Rasafa said, "The type of attacks that were carried out today suggests an attempt from the terrorists to say that they are still present. However, these attacks are no more than futile attempts to cover the black week that al-Qaeda and the rest of the terrorist groups have suffered at the hands of Iraqi forces."

Meanwhile, Dr. Mahir Allawi of al-Yarmuk Hospital, where most of the victims were transferred, said that 13 children and women were among those killed. He said a significant number of the wounded were in extremely serious condition and were transferred to other hospitals.

After the bombings, scores of angry citizens in the street denounced the terrorist operations.

"Everyone here is angry and resentful and would tear the terrorists apart with their own teeth if they had the chance," said Saleh Jabbar of the civil defence unit in Baghdad.

"In spite of the destruction and sabotage, we saw how the Sunnis and Shias united to save the victims," Jabbar added. "This is a strong response to al-Qaeda and the terrorists who are behind today's attacks."

"The entire street is revolting against al-Qaeda and the terrorists. I think that they will never get away with their act," added Arkan al-Ani, another Baghdad resident.

"We were expecting these operations two days ago. The blows that were dealt to the body of terrorism were severe," said Ghazwan al-Shami of al-Mansour neighbourhood. "These are the kicks of a slain beast trying to stay alive. However, its death is only a matter of time."

Sondos Ibrahim, 35, went to al-Yarmuk Hospital with her husband to donate blood immediately after they heard about the bombings.

"We will not give in to the terrorists," she said. "They can use whatever explosives and rockets that are still in their hands. However, they will soon run out and then they will be arrested or killed, like their leaders who were killed."

"After that, we shall see who will be victorious and who will realise freedom and security -- them or us," she added.

Meanwhile, in al-Khalidyah, Iraqi forces said nine people were killed and 15 others were wounded in a series of bombings targeting the houses of citizens and members of al-Sahwa and Iraqi police.

"Armed terrorist elements blew up six houses in the central area at 5:30 a.m. on Friday after placing explosives in metal tins and homemade bombs around houses belonging to a criminal police detective, a businessman, two members of al-Sahwa, a policeman, and a citizen," said Maj. Amer al-Fahdawi, deputy director of al-Khalidyah police station.

Al-Fahdawi said that the attacks killed an entire family after their house collapsed on them. Two more citizens were killed in two other houses, and a soldier who was trying to rescue a family was also killed when the bomb he was trying to defuse blew up.

Few hours after the attacks in al-Khalidyah, Anbar Police Chief Gen. Bahaa al-Karkhi announced the arrest of the gang that carried out the attack on the citizens' houses.

"We have arrested seven terrorists and quantities of dangerous explosives were found in their possession," he said. "They were trying to escape with them to outside the city, but Iraqi forces managed to surround and arrest them."

"Another operation to blow up three other houses in the same area was prevented," al-Karkhi added.

"We hope that the terrorists will come out like men and fight our security forces," said Alaa Adin al-Marawi, a resident of al-Khalidyah. "However, they treacherously and meanly sneak around at night to commit their crimes while people are asleep at home. We shall continue to chase them until the last terrorist of them."

"The terrorists are weak, as they target women and children and citizens' houses," said Abd Qassim Sarhan, an employee in al-Khalidyah municipality. "You can see the anger in citizens' eyes. [The terrorists] are digging their own graves."

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