December 2009 Baghdad bombings

Terrorist attacks in Iraq

December 2009 Baghdad bombings

Location| Baghdad, Iraq
Date| 8 December 2009
10:30 am – (UTC+3)
Target| Multiple

Attack type

| Car bombs
Deaths| 127+
Injured| 448+
Perpetrator| Islamic State of Iraq[1]

The December 2009 Baghdad bombings were attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of at least 127 people and injuries to at least 448 more.[2] The attacks have been condemned internationally as acts of terrorism.[2][3] Opposition parties within Iraqi politics have suggested that the attacks were aided by corruption within the Iraqi security forces and that the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, was incompetent in managing the incident.[4]

The Islamic State of Iraq has claimed responsibility for the attacks.[1]

## Attack

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The attack occurred on the morning of 8 December 2009, at approximately 10:30 am. Local residents reported one blast just after 10:00, which was followed about a half-hour later by another four blasts in quick succession.[5] By mid-afternoon, officials had reported five blasts in the area. At least four of the attacks are believed to have been coordinated.[1]

The first of the bombings targeted a police patrol in Dora; this attack also wounded several people at a nearby college.[6] The next four bombings were believed to be targeted at government buildings,[5] and were detonated by suicide bombers. Islamic State of Iraq has claimed responsibility for these four attacks; it is unclear if the attack in Dora was connected to them.[1] Burnt out vehicles, believed to be the ones used for the bombings, were found outside the Finance, Foreign, and Justice Ministries.[7]

The attack is the deadliest in Iraq since the 25 October 2009 Baghdad twin truck bombings, which killed 155 people and wounded 500.[2]

## Perpetrators

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Islamic State of Iraq organization claimed the attack on 10 December, stating that it "targeted the headquarters of evil, the nests of non-belief (…) The list of targets will not end",[1] and that they were "determined to uproot the pillars of the government".[8]

## Aftermath

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As the attacks happened in such quick succession, security forces could do nothing to stop them or curtail the damage.[9] However, Iraqi opposition party leaders have suggested that the attacks were the fault of corrupt security officers and accused Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki of not being able to manage the incident.[4] Colonel Ahmed Khalifa of the Iraqi Army has criticised guards at security checkpoints, saying that "It’s clearly negligence and laziness at fault."[10]

Political interference in the Iraqi security forces was also a reason for the security failure.[11]

The Iraqi Security forces did not feel that they could handle the aftermath of the attack alone and requested assistance from American forces, who aided them in forensic work and crowd management. American troops[10] also airlifted survivors to hospitals.[9] Prior to the bombing, Iraqi forces had managed to deal with such incidents largely by themselves. Speaking of the latest assistance, a member of the provincial council commented "The Americans are friends and in difficult situations they come to help us."[10]

The day after the attack, the government's security chief for Baghdad was sacked by the Iraqi Prime Minister due to alleged security failings during the bombings.[1]

## Reactions

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The attacks have been internationally condemned as terrorist acts, and condolences have been offered by the US and UK, as well as Jordan.[12] There is a universal feeling among Iraqi officials that the aim of the attacks was to undermine the Iraqi elections.[2][10]

Iraq: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said that the attacks were an attempt to "hinder the election" and cause chaos:

> These cowardly terrorist attacks that took place in Baghdad today, after the Parliament succeeded in overcoming the last obstacle to conducting elections confirms that the enemies of Iraq and its people are aiming at creating chaos in the country, blocking political progress and delaying the elections.

> — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki[13]

Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Advisor, blamed Al-Qaeda for the attacks. He said: "[Their] aim is to show the government is unable to protect civilians and its own people and also to deter people from going to ballot boxes."[2] Iraqi Major General Qassim Atta has also blamed Al-Qaeda, commenting that: "This has the touch of al-Qaeda and the Ba'athists."[13]

United Kingdom: A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that "real improvements" have been made in the security and politics of Iraq, and that "Those who seek to use violence to undermine these efforts will not succeed".[2] Foreign Secretary David Miliband offered his full support to the Iraqi authorities in their work against terrorism, saying that his thoughts are with those affected. Miliband has added that the Iraqi politicians and people have shown great determination in securing a democratic government.[3]

United States: White House spokesman Robert Gibbs condemned the attacks, saying that the attacks show that there are those who feel threatened by the fact that Iraq is "moving in the right direction".[2] Vice-President Joe Biden said "The United States strongly condemns these attacks on the Iraqi people and their elected government," while adding that the US would stand with the Iraqi people as a partner and friend as they build national unity. Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, also said that "the terrorists who murdered innocent civilians today will not succeed in undermining the Iraqi people's progress toward a more peaceful and democratic future. The United States will continue to support the Iraqi people as they face down violent extremism and work to build a more peaceful and democratic nation."[14]

## See also

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* Iraq portal

* 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, 2009

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f "Al-Qaeda group claims Iraq attack". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
2. ^ a b c d e f g "Baghdad car bombs cause carnage". BBC News. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
3. ^ a b "Britain condemns Baghdad bombings". xinhuanet. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
4. ^ a b Spencer, Richard (8 December 2009). "More than 120 killed in Baghdad bombings". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
5. ^ a b "Car Bombs Kill 127 in Baghdad ; Al-Qaeda Blamed for Day of Death". American Chronicle. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
6. ^ "Car-Bombs Kill Over 100, Wound Dozens in Baghdad". Voa news. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
7. ^ "Car bombings in Baghdad leave 101 dead". The money times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
8. ^ [dead link]"Al-Qaida claims this week's deadly Baghdad blasts". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
9. ^ a b "Baghdad blasts claim lives of more than one hundred people". Thaindian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
10. ^ a b c d August, Oliver (9 December 2009). "Iraq insurgents try to blast elections off course". The Times. London. Retrieved 8 December 2009.[dead link]
11. ^ Santora, Marc; Mohammed, Riyadh (9 December 2009). "Iraq's Other Security Threat: Politics". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018 - via NYTimes.com.
12. ^ "Jordan's king condemns Baghdad bombings". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
13. ^ a b "Baghdad bomb blasts leave 127 dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
14. ^ "Iraq blasts 'will not halt US exit'". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.

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