2010 Al-Kazimiyya Mosque bombings
Al-Kazimiyya Mosque bombings | |
---|---|
Mausoleum of Musa Kadhim | |
Location | Kadhimiya, Baghdad, Iraq |
Date | 6-8 July 2010 19:45 – (UTC+4) |
Target | Shia pilgrims |
Attack type | Suicide bomb + other bombings |
Deaths | 70+[1] |
Injured | 400+[2] |
Perpetrators | Unknown |
In early July 2010, a series of bombing attacks in Baghdad, Iraq killed at least 70 people while injuring 400[1][2] during a Shia pilgrimage to Al-Kazimiyya Mosque, the mausoleum of Musa al-Kadhim.[3] The bombings targeted those on the annual pilgrimage and took place from 6 to 8 July. The pilgrimage has been attacked in previous years by Sunni extremists and in 2005 was the site of a stampede that killed up to 1,000 people.
Background
The pilgrimage to Al-Kazimiyya Mosque is of significance to Shia Muslims, as he was the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shia Islam. The pilgrimage was due to reach its climax on the night of the bombing and into the early hours of the next day.
In 2005, 1,000 people were killed in a crowd crush on the way to this mausoleum during the same pilgrimage. In 2009, Shia pilgrims were killed on the way to the shrine (including many Iranians) in a suicide attack.[3][4]
The attacks also followed US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to meet senior Iraqi officials to urge them to form a government.[1]
- v
- t
- e
§ indicates the deadliest attack in the Iraq War
This list only includes major attacks.
- 2003
- 1st Baghdad
- 2nd Baghdad
- Najaf
- 3rd Baghdad
- 1st Nasiriyah
- 1st Karbala
- 2004
- ‡ 1st Erbil
- ‡ Ashoura
- 1st Basra
- 1st Mosul
- 4th Baghdad
- 5th Baghdad
- Karbala & Najaf
- 1st Baqubah
- Kufa
- Marez
- 2005
- Suwaira bombing
- ‡ 1st Al Hillah
- 2nd Erbil
- ‡ Musayyib
- 6th Baghdad
- ‡ 7th Baghdad
- 1st Balad
- Khanaqin
- 2006
- ‡ Karbala-Ramadi
- 1st Samarra
- 8th Baghdad
- 9th Baghdad
- ‡ 10th Baghdad
- 2007
- 11th Baghdad
- 12th Baghdad
- ‡ 13th Baghdad
- 14th Baghdad
- 15th Baghdad
- ‡ 2nd Al Hillah
- ‡ 1st Tal Afar
- 16th Baghdad
- 17th Baghdad
- 2nd & 3rd Karbala
- 2nd Mosul
- ‡ 18th Baghdad
- Makhmour
- Abu Sayda
- 2nd Samarra
- 19th Baghdad
- ‡ Amirli
- 1st Kirkuk
- 20th Baghdad
- 21st Baghdad
- § Qahtaniya
- Amarah
- 2008
- 22nd Baghdad
- 2nd Balad
- 23rd Baghdad
- 4th Karbala
- 24th Baghdad
- Karmah
- 2nd Baqubah
- Dujail
- Balad Ruz
- 2009
- 25th Baghdad
- 26th Baghdad
- Baghdad-Muqdadiyah
- Taza
- 27th Baghdad
- 2nd Kirkuk
- 2nd Tal Afar
- ‡ 28th Baghdad
- ‡ 29th Baghdad
- ‡ 30th Baghdad
- 2010
- 31st Baghdad
- 32nd Baghdad
- 3rd Baqubah
- 33rd Baghdad
- 34th Baghdad
- 35th Baghdad
- ‡ 1st Pan-Iraq
- 36th Baghdad
- 37th Baghdad
- 2nd Pan-Iraq
- 38th Baghdad
- 39th Baghdad
- ‡ 40th Baghdad
Attacks
During the Shia pilgrimage festivities to the mosque that lasted three days from 6 – 8 July various attacks in the city took place. The most deadly attack occurred in the hours before tens of thousands of Shia's came into Baghdad amid heavy security for the pilgrimage. Hundreds of tents were erected to feed people as they came into town. Another bomb struck in the central Bab al-Muazam neighbourhood while a third exploded in the southeastern Mashtal district.[1]
The deadliest attack occurred in Adhamiyah district on 7 July, killing 28 people and leaving a further 136 wounded.[2] Eleven more people in the area were killed in bomb attacks on the same day.[2] Further attacks were carried out whilst the pilgrimage ended on 8 July that killed 11 and injured more than 77 more.[2] Some of the attacks were made with mortars and others with roadside bombs.[5]
Heavy security had been put in place prior to the attacks as bombings that target Shia pilgrims are common in Iraq. Military checkpoints were in place and all vehicular traffic had been banned on several of Baghdad's main bridges.[2] Major General Qassim Atta of the Baghdad police said special safety measures, including road closures, were employed to protect the pilgrims. "We continue to organise transport for pilgrims and air surveillance for their benefit. The movement of motorcycles, bicycles and carts is banned throughout the city until further notice." However, a lone suicide bomber struck the crowd en route to the shrine.[3]
Responsibility
Though no one claimed responsibility, a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor said that in the past "these very large Shia pilgrimages have been targeted by Sunni militants interested in increasing sectarian tension[s]."[3] The attacks were seen as a "clear indication of the determination of anti-government fighters to exploit Iraq's political vacuum and destabilise the country as US troops prepare to leave."[1]
Reaction
Opposition party Hezbollah condemned the attacks for its targeting of pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine and considered its perpetrators "heartless and inhumane criminals who seek to sabotage Iraq, targeting its security and stability." A statement it released, emphasized that "such acts are in service of the US occupation and its devilish schemes as Iraq had turned into a scene of genocides since the US soldiers set foot in the country, targeting those believers, the holy shrines and the mosques." It also expressed "sincere feelings of sympathy and support to the families of the victims, calling upon the sons of Iraq to uncover the murderers and sanctioning them."[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Deadly attacks target Iraq pilgrims". english.aljazeera.net. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Abboud, Assad (8 July 2010). "Baghdad attacks on Shiite pilgrims kill 70 in three days". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 8 July 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Pilgrims die in Iraq suicide attack". Al Jazeera. 7 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Fresh Iraq bombings hit Shia pilgrims in Baghdad". BBC News. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Nearly 70 dead in 3 days of Baghdad violence". Australia Network News. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=145648&language=en [dead link]