April 2010 Baghdad bombings

2010 series of bomb attacks in Baghdad

April 2010 Baghdad bombings

Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
Location| Baghdad, Iraq
Date| 23–24 April 2010 (UTC+4)
Target| Mostly Shias

Attack type

| coordinated bomb detonations
Deaths| 85+
Injured| 145+
Perpetrator|  Islamic State of Iraq

The April 2010 Baghdad bombings were a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq that killed at least 85 people over two days.[1] Hundreds more were seriously wounded.[2]

## The bombings

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### 23 April attacks

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On 23 April, over a two-hour time span, a wave of coordinated bombings hit Shia Muslims leaving Friday prayers, Shiite neighbourhoods, and a market.[3][4] The attacks consisted of five car bombs, which accounted for 58 deaths, and approximately 13 bombs in total.[5][6] A car bomb outside the Abdel Hadi al-Chalabi mosque in Al-Hurriya killed five and wounded 14.[5] Three bombs, including two car bombs, in the Sadr City district of Baghdad occurred near the headquarters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, where followers gather for morning prayers every Friday.[5][7] The bombings killed at least 39 and wounded 56 others in Sadr City.[5] A car bomb and a suicide bomber in the Al-Ameen district in east Baghdad killed 11 worshipers leaving a Shiite mosque after prayers and wounded 23 additional people.[5][6] "Why do they always target us? We are peaceful people. We come to pray and then go on our way," remarked one angry survivor.[6]

Five homemade bombs were also detonated in the predominantly Sunni Al Anbar Governorate killing seven and injuring 11.[7] A police officer responding to the bombings was killed by a roadside bomb.[7] A cluster of houses was damaged in the attack.[7] According to NPR correspondent Quill Lawrence, the bombs were targeted at a police detective and a judge living in the area, both of whom survived.[8] Late on 24 April, the official death toll from the Friday attacks stood at 72.[1] Around 120 people were wounded.[6]

### Continued violence

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On 24 April, 13 additional people were killed when three bombs were detonated in Western Baghdad.[1][9] The three bombs, which were hidden in plastic bags, injured 25 additional people.[1] The three bombs exploded simultaneously in a billiard hall located in a mixed Sunni-Shiite neighbourhood.[1]

## Perpetrators and aftermath

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Iraqi Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi officials alleged that the Islamic State of Iraq organization carried out the bombing attacks.[1] The attacks were widely seen as retribution for the killings of two top Islamic State of Iraq officials Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Hamza al-Muhajir the previous Sunday.[1][6] Security spokesperson Qassim al-Moussawi stated that "targeting prayers in areas with a [Shiite] majority is a revenge for the losses suffered by the Islamic State of Iraq."[6] Iraqi political analyst Hameed Fadhel agreed, saying, "These are acts of revenge that are intended to send a message to the Iraqi government and the world that the Islamic State of Iraq's existence will not be affected by the killing of specific leaders."[6] No one has officially claimed responsibility.[1] The government expects "such terrorist acts to continue."[6]

After the attacks, Muqtada al-Sadr offered to "Iraqi security forces to fight insurgents", sparking fear that he might be considering a revival of his Mahdi Army militia.[1] Al-Sadr's aides claimed that he had no such plans.[1] He urged his followers to remain calm and not provoke the United States, but added that he was prepared to have "hundreds of believers" join the Iraqi army and police forces.[1] "The government might ask the help of individual citizens, not from armed groups," presidential aid Ali al-Adeeb responded.[1]

On Friday and Saturday, citizens of the Sadr City enclave of Baghdad took to the streets for at least six separate funeral processions.[1][10] Many of the victims were carried to the holy city of Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the south.[10] Some of the mourners supported the idea of reviving the Mahdi Army. "They can provide security. The government cannot," remarked one citizen.[1]

## See also

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* v
* t
* e

List of bombings during the Iraq War

‡ indicates attacks resulting in over 100 deaths
§ 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

2011
41st Baghdad
‡ 3rd Pan-Iraq
Karbala-Baghdad
42nd Baghdad
Tikrit
3rd Al Hillah
3rd Samarra
Al Diwaniyah
Taji
4th Pan-Iraq
43rd Baghdad
4th Karbala
44th Baghdad
2nd Basra
45th Baghdad

* List of terrorist incidents, 2010
* Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2010

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Jakes, Lara (24 April 2010). "Iraq bombings raise specter of Shiite militia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
2. ^ "Dozens killed in Baghdad in 'revenge al-Qaeda attacks'". BBC News. BBC. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
3. ^ Fordham, Alice (23 April 2010). "Wave of bombs in Baghdad kills 58". The Times. News International. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
4. ^ Juhi, Bushra (23 April 2010). "Bombs kill 60 in Iraq days after al-Qaida killings". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
5. ^ a b c d e "Five car bombs kill 58". The Sydney Mourning Herald. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Mohammad, Muhanad (24 April 2010). "Bombings leave 56 people dead in Iraqi capital". Vancouver Sun. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
7. ^ a b c d Myers, Steven Lee; Adnan, Duraid (24 April 2010). "Bombs kill 69 as Iraq faces recount, al-Qaida threat". The New York Times and The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
8. ^ James, Frank (23 April 2010). "Iraq Bombings Kill at Least 56 in Shiite Areas". NPR. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
9. ^ Santana, Rebecca (24 April 2010). "6 killed by blasts in western Baghdad". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 April 2010.[dead link]
10. ^ a b "IShiites bury victims of Baghdad mosque bombings". Associated Press. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.[dead link]

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