- Title: IRAQ: SUICIDE BOMBER AT MOSQUE KILLS 13 / GUNMEN KILL NINE AT BAGHDAD BAKERY
- Date: 11th February 2005
- Summary: (BN11) BALAD RUZ, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 11, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF MAN CARRYING WOUNDED CHILD OUT OF CAR, PUTTING CHILD ON STRETCHER AND TROLLEY BEING PUSHED INTO HOSPITAL 0.16 2. CLOSE OF SIGN "BAQUBA GENERAL HOSPITAL, EMERGENCY WARD" 0.20 3. SLV MAN WITH WOUNDS TO HIS BACK 0.22 4. CLOSE OF WOUNDED CHILD 0.24 5. CLOSE OF
- Embargoed: 26th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD/SALMAN PAK/BALAD RUZ, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVACV3W1NS71N9P6SO4AFWA0D43I
- Story Text: Suicide car bomb at mosque kills at least 13 and
Iraqi police say gunmen kill nine at Baghdad bakery.
A suicide car bomb exploded outside a Shi'ite mosque
northeast of Baghdad as worshippers were leaving a
religious ceremony on Friday (February 11), killing at
least 13 people, local police said. The blast in the town of Balad
Ruz targeted Iraqis as
they were leaving a Shi'ite ceremony linked to the holy
period of Ashura. The area around Balad Ruz has both Sunni
and Shi'ite residents.
Shi'ites make up around 60 percent of Iraq's
population but were oppressed for decades under Saddam
Hussein. An alliance of mainly Shi'ite Islamist groups is
expected to dominate Iraqi politics following the Jan. 30
elections.
Insurgents, most of whom are Sunni Muslim, have mounted
repeated attacks on Shi'ites. Shi'ite leaders say they will
not be drawn into a civil war.
Earlier, gunmen opened fire on Shi'ites in a bakery in
Baghdad, killing at least nine people.
Police said the gunmen drove up in two cars and then
burst into the bakery. The motive for the attack was not
known.
"At eight o' clock in the morning two cars came and
blocked the ends of the street," said a witness.
"They (gunmen) entered this bakery and this one
(points). Why did they do this and how? Everyone (the
workers) is from different areas, people here are working
to support their families. Nine people were killed today, I
want to know the government doesn't protect us and won't
let us protect ourselves. (Points to police) These people
are shooting at us now. Why is that?," he told Reuters.
Seven of the victims died in the bakery and two others
died in hospital, police said.
On Thursday at least ten Iraqi policemen and a number
of gunmen have been killed in a massive battle that broke
out when rebels launched an onslaught on a police station
southeast of Baghdad police say.
The burnt-out wreckage of vehicles drew crowds to the
scene on Friday where about 78 policemen were also
wounded in the fire fight in Salman Pak, 35 km (12 miles)
southeast of Baghdad, which lasted several hours, a police
officer said in a condition of anonymity. Eight policemen
went missing, the source said.
He said that a police force in 70 vehicles, which went
to Salman Pak in a crackdown on insurgents came under
attack with mortar, automatic rifles and rocket-propelled
grenades (RPG).
He said that some 46 vehicles were damaged and burnt
in the fight and five others were still missing, he said,
adding that 14 gunmen were arrested.
However, some residents of the area said that
policemen raided houses and stole money and jewellery.
"This is a terrorist act. They stole this from a shop
to take it to their women and the helicopter came- no one
hit the Americans- we were walking in the alley when the
helicopter swooped down and fired on us. Police entered
houses. (they stole) Money and gold jewellery, they entered
houses for search and locked up women and search bedrooms
for gold jewellery. This is the Iraqi policeman. He is an
Iraqi and we are Iraqis," said a teenager, resident of the
district.
U.S. military said in a statement on Thursday that a
large number of terrorists attacked Iraqi police in
Baghdad's southeast neighbourhood of Salman Pak on Thursday.
Initial reports indicated that five policemen were
wounded in the fight, the statement said .
It added that the fighting began at about 1:45 p.m.,
when an Iraqi police force came under attack from mortar
and direct fire. A firefight between the police and the
gunmen lasted nearly two hours. Nearly 20 cars were on
fire following the attack.
A US military statement said US troops evacuated the
wounded for treatment.
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