19 September 2010 Baghdad bombings

The 19 September 2010 Baghdad bombings were a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq that killed at least 31 people, in two neighbourhoods of the capital.^[1] Over a hundred more were wounded.^[2] On 24 September the Islamic state of Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.^[3]

Background

Iraqis blamed the political deadlock in their country for the attacks as Iraqi authorities are struggling to form a unity government since March 2010 elections which rendered no single bloc to form a majority win and hence depending upon each other for forming a coalition government.^[2][4]

Further the attacks in recent days also coincided with the USA's decision to downsize its troops in Iraq and handing over the security to Iraqi forces.^[2][5]

Attacks

On 19 September 2010 two car bombs exploded in the Iraqi capital almost simultaneously at around 10:10 am.^[5] The first (and most powerful) car bomb exploded in the residential Mansour district killing 10 people.^[4] The attack was in front of the local sales office of Asiacell (an Iraqi mobile phone company), although it is not clear if this was the specific target.^[5][6]

Minutes later second attack occurred, in the predominately Shiite neighborhood of Al Kadhimiyah.^[5] Apparently aimed at an office of the Iraqi Federal Police and the National Security Ministry in Adan Square, it killed approximately 21 people and injured 71.^[4][7] A witness described the attack; "It was a minibus – the driver stopped and told people nearby that he was going to go see a doctor, a few minutes later, it exploded."^[5]

Perpetrators and aftermath

On 24 September Al-Qaida's the Islamic state of Iraq front group in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.^[8]

References

See also

• List of terrorist incidents, 2010
• List of suicide bombings in Iraq in 2010