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April 2010 Baghdad bombings
Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
LocationBaghdad, Iraq
Date23–24 April 2010 ( UTC+4)
TargetMostly Shias
Attack type
coordinated bomb detonations
Deaths85+
Injured145+
PerpetratorUnknown

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 predominantly Sunni Al Anbar Governorate 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

Iraqi Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi officials alleged that the Islamic State of Iraq organization carried out 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Jakes, Lara (24 April 2010). "Iraq bombings raise specter of Shiite militia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Dozens killed in Baghdad in 'revenge al-Qaeda attacks'". BBC News. BBC. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. ^ Fordham, Alice (23 April 2010). "Wave of bombs in Baghdad kills 58". The Times. News International. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  4. ^ Juhi, Bushra (23 April 2010). "Bombs kill 60 in Iraq days after al-Qaida killings". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Five car bombs kill 58". The Sydney Mourning Herald. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Mohammad, Muhanad (24 April 2010). "Bombings leave 56 people dead in Iraqi capital". Vancouver Sun. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d 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. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  8. ^ James, Frank (23 April 2010). "Iraq Bombings Kill at Least 56 in Shiite Areas". NPR. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  9. ^ Santana, Rebecca (24 April 2010). "6 killed by blasts in western Baghdad". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  10. ^ a b "IShiites bury victims of Baghdad mosque bombings". Associated Press. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.

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