- Title: IRAQ: SERIES OF BLASTS REPORTED IN SUICIDE BOMB SPATE
- Date: 16th July 2005
- Summary: (W3) NORTHERN BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 15, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. DAMAGED CAR 2. DEBRIS SCATTERED ON THE GROUND 3. DAMAGED CIVILIAN CAR 4. BROKEN WINDSCREEN OF CIVILIAN CAR 5. BLOOD STAINS ON DOOR OF CAR 6. SCENE OF BLAST 7. BURNED OUT CAR 8. DAMAGED CAR 9. BROKEN WINDSCREEN OF CIVILIAN CAR
- Embargoed: 31st July 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA3D9F6M0OP9MM0SK08QOQS5DZ
- Story Text: A series of blasts reported in Baghdad suicide bomb
spate.
Suicide car bombers blew themselves up in a series
of attacks within hours across the Iraqi capital on Friday
(July 15, 2005), and U.S. forces said 20 Iraqis were killed.
The U.S. military reported seven blasts in Baghdad, at
least three of which were suicide car bombs. Reuters
journalists saw the aftermath of five big explosions, all
of which Iraqi police sources said were suicide car bombs.
Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for five suicide
attacks.
At least two attacks struck U.S. military targets.
Three American soldiers were hurt, but none killed, U.S.
military spokesman Lieutenant Jamie Davis said.
A U.S. statement said five of the dead were Iraqi
soldiers and 15 were Iraqi civilians.
In the north of the city, firefighters tried to douse
the flames near one blast site which targeted Iraqi troops,
where several cars were destroyed and bloodsoaked survivors
argued with police.
"A red Opel with two suicide bombers exploded near the
headquarters of the Iraqi National Guards and police
patrols. We have eight killed and another eight wounded,"
policeman Ahmed Nadir said.
The bodies were too charred to immediately identify how
many were Iraqi soldiers and how many civilians.
Another bomb struck near Andalus square in the town
centre.
Reuters correspondents in central Baghdad heard that
blast, followed by gunfire. An Interior Ministry source
said the blast was caused by a suicide car bomb that
wounded five Iraqi soldiers and three civilians.
"The National Guards' vehicles were parking here and
then a speeding car came close to them and exploded. It
split into two parts," eyewitness Raed Salman said.
In the New Baghdad district in the southeast of the
city, eyewitness Basim Mohammed said he saw a car bomber
ram an armoured U.S. convoy at high speed, but saw no
casualties.
"A U.S. convoy was driving in Qanat al-Jaish to the
road that leads to the military university. He speedily
rammed the convoy . We did not see any casualties," he said.
Davis confirmed that was one of the car bombs recorded
by U.S. forces. He said two U.S. soldiers were hurt.
Another apparent suicide car bomb exploded outside a
garage, the driver tried to enter but the car blew up.
"We were stopping right here with our bicycles when a
car parked near the garage. It aimed at entering the garage
but it exploded before reaching its aim. The broken glass
fell on us," said Hassan Talib, a witness.
Smoking wreckage of cars was also visible at a blast
site near the old Iraqi Defence Ministry headquarters.
Iraqi troops ran around and gunshots could be heard after
the blast.
Police sources said 19 Iraqi soldiers were wounded
there.
Al Qaeda's Iraq wing said in statements on the Internet
it had carried out five suicide car bomb attacks.
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