IRAQ: AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AFTER A SUSPECTED CAR BOMB RIPS THROUGH A HOTEL IN BAGHDAD

Record ID: 358728

  • Title: IRAQ: AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AFTER A SUSPECTED CAR BOMB RIPS THROUGH A HOTEL IN BAGHDAD
  • Date: 17th March 2004
  • Summary: (W6) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 17, 2004) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF FIRES BURNING AFTER BLAST/ PEOPLE CARRYING INJURED FROM THE RUBBLE (10 SHOTS) 1.30 2. VARIOUS OF AMBULANCES, INJURED AND FAMILIES OUTSIDE HOSPITAL (2 SHOTS) 1.42 (U6) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 17, 2004) (REUTERS) 3. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AT THE SCENE/ AMBULANCES A
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA8JDOJFPJ3YEDPSO023DQHJX13
  • Story Text: Suspected Iraq car bomb kills at least 25.


    A powerful blast ripped through a Baghdad hotel and
    neighbouring houses in the heart of the Iraqi capital on
    Wednesday (March 17), killing several people and sending a
    column of flames and smoke into the night sky.

    Deputy Iraqi Interior Minister Ahmed Kadhim blamed a
    guerrilla rocket attack for the blast, but a U.S. military
    spokesman said the cause was not yet known and some reports
    said it was possibly a car bombing.

    Reuters correspondent Luke Baker said several bodies
    were being pulled out of the rubble of the small Mount
    Lebanon Hotel, used mainly by Iraqis and Arabs.

    The hotel, neighbouring buildings and several cars were
    ablaze, and rescuers said many people were trapped under
    the rubble.

    The blast, which occurred three days before the first
    anniversary of the start of U.S.-led war to oust Saddam
    Hussein, carved out a huge crater around seven metres (20
    ft) across and three metres (10 ft) deep in the road
    outside the hotel.

    Asked about reports angry Iraqis at the scene had
    attacked U.S. soldiers, a U.S. military spokesman told
    Britain's Sky News television: "We do have a quick reaction
    force on sight. They are assisting Iraqi police."
    The explosion occurred near Firdows Square, where a
    statue of Saddam was symbolically toppled on April 9 last
    year when U.S. troops rolled into the city.

    It was also close to the Sheraton and Palestine hotels,
    where many foreign contractors, companies and media
    organisations are based.

    Guerrillas fighting the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq
    have mounted a number of car bomb and other attacks in
    Baghdad in recent months, and hotels have been targeted
    several times.


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