Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BAGHDAD, Iraq – On April 6, a number of bombings took place all throughout the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The bombings killed at least thirty five individuals. Additionally, over one hundred and forty people were injured in the attacks. The attack comes just two days after suicide near the foreign embassies in Baghdad killed over forty people. The bombings come at a time of political instability as the March 7 parliamentary elections left no single political group with enough votes to form a government.
There were at least seven bombings that struck residential areas throughout the Iraqi capital. According to Iraqi military spokesman, Major General Qassam al-Moussawi, the types of bombs were inconsistent, varying from homemade bombs to a vehicle packed full with explosives. The blasts targeted residential buildings that were in a mix of both Sunni and Shi’ite areas.
In the Shula district, an area located in western Baghdad, a car bomb exploded. The explosion caused an number of buildings to collapse. The collapse of the buildings, according to Iraqi security sources, killed a number of people. Zeina Kohr, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, explained that Shula “is a mostly Shi’ite neighborhood. It used to be a former stronghold of the Mahdi Army.” The Mahdi Army refers to the army of the supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shi’ite leader.
In addition to the car bomb in the Shula district, there were two car bombs that exploded in Chkook, Kahdamiya district. These bombings killed five people. Additionally, three blasts in northern Baghdad targeted apartment buildings filled with people. Another black targeted a building located in the south western part of the Iraqi capital. According to the BBC’s Jim Muir, some of the buildings targeted by bombs collapsed under the force of the blast, burying resident under the rubble.
The Iraqi elections resulted in former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi having a slim lead, but the country lacking certainty in who will form the next government. Bahaa al-Araji, a member of the Iraqi parliament spoke of the effect of the uncertainty on Iraq’s security. Araji said that the security forces lack direction as “they don’t know what will become of them.” Araji explained that the forces are “scared they will their position if government changes.”
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Multiple Explosions Rock Baghdad – 6 April 2010
BBC – Baghdad Shia Areas Hit By Blasts Killing At Least 35 – 6 April 2010
New York Times – Iraq Bombing Raise Fears of Resurgent Violence – 6 April 2010
