- Title: IRAQ: Car bomb targets market
- Date: 23rd July 2012
- Summary: MAHMUDIYA, IRAQ (JULY 23, 2012) (REUTERS): DEBRIS LITTERING GROUND OF MARKET WHERE BLAST TOOK PLACE CHILDREN NEAR WRECKAGE OF CAR BOMB
- Embargoed: 7th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location:
- City:
- Country:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA93HCT046LO94P1EGPZ48BXZIT
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Markets traders were counting the cost on Monday (July 23) a day after a car bomb ripped through a marketplace carpark in the town of Mahmudiya, 30 km (20 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
11 people were killed and wounded 38 in the town after three car bombs went off in quick succession. The second blast detonated after police arrived at the scene, and was followed by a third at the town's police station, police sources said.
Local resident, Ali Hussein, who lives near the market, questioned the motives behind the attacks:
"What is the guilt of these poor people? They are working to earn a living . It is a poor market and people were here to shop in this market when the blast happened. Why has this happened?"
Although violence in Iraq has eased since a peak in 2006-2007 when tens of thousands were killed, insurgents still carry out deadly attacks, especially around the capital.
The past two weeks have seen a lull in violence in the lead-up to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started in Iraq on Saturday.
Last month at least 237 people were killed and 603 wounded in attacks, making it one of the bloodiest months since U.S. troops withdrew at the end of last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
