12 February 2007 Baghdad bombings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

12 February 2007 Baghdad bombings
Location Baghdad, Iraq
Date February 12, 2007 (UTC+3)
Attack type Car bombing
Deaths Approx. 76
Injured Approx. 150

Two car bombs exploded in Baghdad, Iraq at 12:20 on February 12, 2007 in the Shorja market district, killing 76 people, and injuring 155-180.[1][2]

The explosions set market stalls, shops, and an adjoining 7-storey building on fire, causing further casualties, and local fire-crews struggled for hours to extinguish the flames.[3] The collapse of a building was also reported. The injured were taken to the nearby Al-Kindi hospital, which struggled to cope with the influx, and more casualties are expected from injuries.[4]

[edit] Al-Askari anniversary

The bombings happened during 15 minutes of state endorsed silence, to mark the anniversary[5] of the Al-Askari Mosque bombing in Samarra, which prompted heavy bloodshed. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was participating in a televised ceremony remembering the victims of the attack, and was speaking when the blasts occurred, only two miles away.[6] Al-Maliki had been calling for calm, unity and reconciliation,[7] and had said that Iraq's security forces were regaining control of Iraq's security situation.

[edit] References