IRAQ: Baghdad bus station bomb kills seven people and wounds dozens more

Record ID: 356882

  • Title: IRAQ: Baghdad bus station bomb kills seven people and wounds dozens more
  • Date: 9th June 2009
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 8, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE NEAR BUS TERMINAL WHERE BLAST TOOK PLACE/ DEBRIS ON GROUND SHOWCASE WITH BROKEN GLASS ON PAVEMENT AT SCENE PEOPLE WALKING AT BUS TERMINAL DAMAGED CIVILIAN CAR DAMAGED CAR AND PEOPLE WALKING AT BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABU ALI, WITNESS, SAYING: "The blast took place at quarter to six in the morning. A man mounted t
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVA2CXH6SMYZD0B5XPMBPNIBJ4Z3
  • Story Text: A bomb attached to a minibus killed seven people and wounded 24 others at a busy bus terminal in southern Baghdad on Monday (June 8), police said.
    Violence has fallen sharply in Iraq over the past year, and the number of civilians killed in May was the lowest monthly toll since the U.S-led invasion in 2003. But Iraqi and U.S. forces have yet to stamp out a stubborn insurgency.
    The blast took place in the mainly Shi'ite neighbourhood of Abu Dsheer. Shi'ite areas are often targeted by Sunni Islamist groups who consider Shi'ites heretics.
    The bomb, which was attached to a minibus, appeared to have been timed to go off during the morning rush hour, when the bus stop was crowded with waiting passengers.
    However, witnesses said the bomb was placed in a plastic bag and was left inside the minibus.
    "The blast took place at quarter to six in the morning. A man mounted the minibus with a plastic bag and then he got out leaving the bag inside the vehicle. Ten minutes later the vehicle blew up as the passengers were sitting inside," said Abu Ali who was at the bus stop when the blast took place.
    Such bombings cast doubt on the Iraqi security forces' ability to stand alone as U.S. combat troops prepare to withdraw from Iraqi cities by the end of this month.
    Analysts say violence may increase ahead of national elections due in January 2010, which could pit Shi'ite groups against each other.
    All U.S. personnel are due to leave Iraq by the end of 2011 under a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that came into effect at the start of this year.
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