January 2011 Iraq suicide attacks

The January 2011 Iraq suicide attacks were a series of five consecutive suicide bombings in Iraq.

January 2011 Iraq suicide attacks
LocationBaqubah, Karbala, and Tikrit, Iraq
Date18–20 January 2011 (UTC+03:00)
Attack type
Car bombs, suicide bombing, shooting
DeathsAt least 137
Injured230+
PerpetratorsIslamic State of Iraq (claimed; Tikrit attack)[1]

18 January attack

On 18 January 2011, a bomber killed 63 people and injured around 150 in the city of Tikrit.[2] The bombing occurred near a police facility where several hundred people were gathered.[2] The attack was blamed on a lack of security at the event; a local police official said that "[t]he security procedures weren't good. They did not meet the demands of such a gathering."[2] A local councilman, Abdullah Jabara, said that the attack was committed by Al-Qaeda, and was intended "to shake the security in the province and to bring back instability to Tikrit."[3]

19 January attacks

On 19 January, at least 15[4][5] people were killed in two attacks in the towns of Baqubah and Ghalbiyah, both located in the same region about 65 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Baghdad.[5] In the incident in Baqubah, the attacker reportedly fired on guards at a police building before driving an ambulance with explosives into the building, where the vehicle was blown up.[5] This attack killed either 13[4] or 14[5] people, while injuring between 60 and 70.[4][5] The building collapsed after the attack, burying survivors of the initial explosion.[5] The bombing was estimated to have used 450 pounds (200 kg) of explosives and left a crater 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter.[6]

In Ghalbiyah, a suicide bomber killed two people and injured 15 out of a crowd marching from Baghdad to Karbala, a holy city.[5] An official from the Diyala Governorate and three of his bodyguards were wounded in this incident.[5]

20 January attacks

On 20 January, at least 56 people died when two car bombs detonated near Karbala during the holy festival of Arba'een. In Baquba, three others were killed in a separate suicide bombing.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. Leland, John (24 January 2011). "Bombings Continue Campaign Against Shiite Pilgrims in Karbala". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  2. Sly, Liz (18 January 2011). "Suicide bomber kills dozens in Tikrit". The Washington Post.
  3. "Iraq's security forces targeted in two attacks". Christian Science Monitor. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. Sly, Liz (19 January 2011). "At least 15 killed in third straight day of suicide attacks in Iraq". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. "Baquba ambulance suicide bomber targets Iraq police". BBC News Online. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. Leland, John (19 January 2011). "Insurgents Renew Attacks on Iraqi Security Troops". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. "Karbala car bombs kill dozens during Shia festival". BBC News Online. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  8. "Officials: Toll rises to 56 in Iraqi pilgrim blast". The Washington Post. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.

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