IRAQ: Bombs near Shi'ite mosques across Baghdad kill at least 26

Record ID: 356691

  • Title: IRAQ: Bombs near Shi'ite mosques across Baghdad kill at least 26
  • Date: 1st August 2009
  • Summary: SHAAB DISTRICT, BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 31, 2009) (REUTERS) FAR AWAY SHOT OF MOSQUE TARGETED IN BLAST AND PEOPLE GATHERING NEAR CROWD OF PEOPLE AT BLAST SCENE PRAYER MATS, BLOODSTAINS , SANDALS ON GROUND AND PEOPLE STANDING NEARBY PEOPLE NEAR WRECKAGE OF CAR BOMB MORE OF PEOPLE STANDING NEAR CAR BOMB WRECKAGE
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EQSSA204T5289ATJR9FF7QWN
  • Story Text: The blasts, which appeared to target Shi'ite Muslims taking part in Friday prayers, was a reminder of the capability of militants in Iraq despite an overall drop in violence in the country over the last 18 months.
    At least 67 were wounded.
    Shi'ite religious gatherings are a favourite target of Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, which regards Shi'ites as heretics. The group, though greatly weakened in Iraq in the past 18 months, has shown itself still capable of launching devastating attacks.
    In the worst attack, a car bomb detonated at an outdoor gathering near a mosque in northern Baghdad's Shaab district, killing at least 21 people and wounding 35.
    One Iraqi man who was present at the gathering said the bomb targeted Iraqi faithful who were outside because the mosque was crowded and overflowing. "I saw 15 martyrs," he said.
    U.S. officials say al Qaeda and other Sunni insurgent groups are trying to reignite the sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shi'ites that brought Iraq to the brink of all-out civil war in 2006 and 2007.
    U.S. combat forces withdrew from Iraqi cities last month, raising fears amongst many Iraqis that their own forces are not yet ready to handle security. Violence is still lower than at any time since late 2003.
    U.S. and Iraqi officials expect militant attacks to increase in the run up to national elections expected in January, in which Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is hoping to capitalise on security gains to present himself as a nationalist who brought stability to Iraq.
    A spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry declined to comment on the blasts.
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