Related News
31 die in 2 car bombs in Iraq
Source: Agencies |
September 20, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO car bombs exploded in Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 31 people, breaking what has been a period of relative calm since the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The biggest blasts in the Iraqi capital in a month occurred as commuters were starting their work week, underlining the challenges facing Iraqi security officials in stabilizing Baghdad as United States forces end combat operations and Iraq's police and military take charge of protecting the capital.
At least 10 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in west Baghdad's affluent Mansour neighborhood, Army Brigadier General Ali Fadhal, who is responsible for the western half of the city, told The Associated Press.
He said another 10 were wounded in the attack, and security officials are investigating whether it was the work of a suicide car bomb targeting a crowded commercial area near an AsiaCell store, one of Iraq's biggest mobile phone providers.
The blast sheered off large sections of the concrete walls from the surrounding buildings, and rubble was strewn around the street. Dozens of Iraqi army and police officers surrounded the area, keeping journalists at bay.
An eyewitness, working in an office near the blast site, said he heard a huge blast that shattered windows in his office and brought a section of the ceiling down on one customer.
"Dust and black smoke covered the area, and I thought that the car bomb exploded near our office," said the man, who identified himself as Haidar. He said he saw a lot of injured people on the street and helped evacuate a child who was wounded in his back by shrapnel.
Minutes later another car bomb exploded in Adan square in northern Baghdad's Kazimiyah neighborhood, killing at least 21 and wounding more than 70 others, police and hospital sources said. Two policemen were killed in the blast.
Security officials could be seen roaming the blast site as ambulances and other vehicles blocked the road leading to the checkpoint near a branch office of the Ministry of National Security that police say was targeted.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks that followed President Barack Obama declaration of the end to US combat operations in Iraq on September 1.
The biggest blasts in the Iraqi capital in a month occurred as commuters were starting their work week, underlining the challenges facing Iraqi security officials in stabilizing Baghdad as United States forces end combat operations and Iraq's police and military take charge of protecting the capital.
At least 10 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in west Baghdad's affluent Mansour neighborhood, Army Brigadier General Ali Fadhal, who is responsible for the western half of the city, told The Associated Press.
He said another 10 were wounded in the attack, and security officials are investigating whether it was the work of a suicide car bomb targeting a crowded commercial area near an AsiaCell store, one of Iraq's biggest mobile phone providers.
The blast sheered off large sections of the concrete walls from the surrounding buildings, and rubble was strewn around the street. Dozens of Iraqi army and police officers surrounded the area, keeping journalists at bay.
An eyewitness, working in an office near the blast site, said he heard a huge blast that shattered windows in his office and brought a section of the ceiling down on one customer.
"Dust and black smoke covered the area, and I thought that the car bomb exploded near our office," said the man, who identified himself as Haidar. He said he saw a lot of injured people on the street and helped evacuate a child who was wounded in his back by shrapnel.
Minutes later another car bomb exploded in Adan square in northern Baghdad's Kazimiyah neighborhood, killing at least 21 and wounding more than 70 others, police and hospital sources said. Two policemen were killed in the blast.
Security officials could be seen roaming the blast site as ambulances and other vehicles blocked the road leading to the checkpoint near a branch office of the Ministry of National Security that police say was targeted.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks that followed President Barack Obama declaration of the end to US combat operations in Iraq on September 1.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
