April 2010 Baghdad bombings

April 2010 Baghdad bombings
Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
Location	Baghdad, Iraq
Date	23–24 April 2010 (UTC+4)
Target	Mostly Shias
Attack type	coordinated bomb detonations
Deaths	85+
Injured	145+
Perpetrator	Unknown

The April 2010 Baghdad bombings were a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq that killed at least 85 people over two days.^[1] Hundreds more were seriously wounded.^[2]

The bombings

23 April attacks

On 23 April, over a two-hour time span, a wave of coordinated bombings hit Shia Muslims leaving Friday prayers, Shiite neighbourhoods, and a market.^[3]^[4] The attacks consisted of five car bombs, which accounted for 58 deaths, and approximately 13 bombs in total.^[5]^[6] A car bomb outside the Abdel Hadi al-Chalabi mosque in Al-Hurriya killed five and wounded 14.^[5] Three bombs, including two car bombs, in the Sadr City district of Baghdad occurred near the headquarters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, where followers gather for morning prayers every Friday.^[5]^[7] The bombings killed at least 39 and wounded 56 others in Sadr City.^[5] A car bomb and a suicide bomber in the Al-Ameen district in east Baghdad killed 11 worshipers leaving a Shiite mosque after prayers and wounded 23 additional people.^[5]^[6] "Why do they always target us? We are peaceful people. We come to pray and then go on our way," remarked one angry survivor.^[6]

Five homemade bombs were also detonated in the predominantly Sunni Al Anbar Governorate killing seven and injuring 11.^[7] A police officer responding to the bombings was killed by a roadside bomb.^[7] A cluster of houses was damaged in the attack.^[7] According to NPR correspondent Quill Lawrence, the bombs were targeted at a police detective and a judge living in the area, both of whom survived.^[8] Late on 24 April, the official death toll from the Friday attacks stood at 72.^[1] Around 120 people were wounded.^[6]

Continued violence

On 24 April, 13 additional people were killed when three bombs were detonated in Western Baghdad.^[1]^[9] The three bombs, which were hidden in plastic bags, injured 25 additional people.^[1] The three bombs exploded simultaneously in a billiard hall located in a mixed Sunni-Shiite neighbourhood.^[1]

Perpetrators and aftermath

Iraqi Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi officials alleged that the Islamic State of Iraq organization carried out the bombing attacks.^[1] The attacks were widely seen as retribution for the killings of two top Al-Qaeda officials the previous Sunday.^[1]^[6] Security spokesperson Qassim al-Moussawi stated that "targeting prayers in areas with a [Shiite] majority is a revenge for the losses suffered by al Qaeda."^[6] Iraqi political analyst Hameed Fadhel agreed, saying, "These are acts of revenge that are intended to send a message to the Iraqi government and the world that al-Qaida's existence will not be affected by the killing of specific leaders."^[6] No one has officially claimed responsibility.^[1] The government expects "such terrorist acts to continue."^[6]

After the attacks, Muqtada al-Sadr offered to "Iraqi security forces to fight insurgents", sparking fear that he might be considering a revival of his Mahdi Army militia.^[1] Al-Sadr's aides claimed that he had no such plans.^[1] He urged his followers to remain calm and not provoke the United States, but added that he was prepared to have "hundreds of believers" join the Iraqi army and police forces.^[1] "The government might ask the help of individual citizens, not from armed groups," presidential aid Ali al-Adeeb responded.^[1]

On Friday and Saturday, citizens of the Sadr City enclave of Baghdad took to the streets for at least six separate funeral processions.^[1]^[10] Many of the victims were carried to the holy city of Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the south.^[10] Some of the mourners supported the idea of reviving the Mahdi Army. "They can provide security. The government cannot," remarked one citizen.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Jakes, Lara (24 April 2010). "Iraq bombings raise specter of Shiite militia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ "Dozens killed in Baghdad in 'revenge al-Qaeda attacks'". BBC News. BBC. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
^ Fordham, Alice (23 April 2010). "Wave of bombs in Baghdad kills 58". The Times. News International. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
^ Juhi, Bushra (23 April 2010). "Bombs kill 60 in Iraq days after al-Qaida killings". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Five car bombs kill 58". The Sydney Mourning Herald. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Mohammad, Muhanad (24 April 2010). "Bombings leave 56 people dead in Iraqi capital". Vancouver Sun. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Myers, Steven Lee; Adnan, Duraid (24 April 2010). "Bombs kill 69 as Iraq faces recount, al-Qaida threat". The New York Times and The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ James, Frank (23 April 2010). "Iraq Bombings Kill at Least 56 in Shiite Areas". NPR. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
^ Santana, Rebecca (24 April 2010). "6 killed by blasts in western Baghdad". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b "IShiites bury victims of Baghdad mosque bombings". Associated Press. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.