Updated at 2:16 p.m., Nov. 2, 2010
In a still developing story, a series of at least 21 explosions in the capital has left scores of casualties. At least 120 people were killed across the country, while as many as 369 were wounded. These numbers are estimates and could change throughout the day and into tomorrow. In the United Kingdom, meanwhile, a student was found guilty of attacking a British lawmaker over his support for the Iraq war.
In Baghdad, a series of attacks has left more than 113 dead in mostly Shi’ite neighborhoods; however, figures could still change as rescuers dig through the rubble. Health Minister Saleh al-Hasnawi placed the number of wounded as high as 320 early in the day, but as many as 40 more wounded were reported later.
The blasts literally took place all over the city. Among them was a car bomb in Sadr City that left 21 dead and 46 wounded. A motorcycle bomb in Amin left six dead and 21 with injuries. Eight died and 21 were injured when a car bomb exploded in Rahmaniya. A bomb blast at a restaurant in Shula killed seven and wounded 23 more. Seven were killed and 22 were wounded in a blast at a Husseiniyah marketplace. In Doura, a blast killed five and wounded 19 more. Mortars striking a mosque in Adhamiyah left five dead and 17 wounded. In Shabb, four were killed and 15 were wounded when a car bomb exploded at a coffee shop, but three more blasts were heard by witnesses. In Kadhamiya, four died and nine were wounded in a roadside bombing. A bomb in Ur left three dead and 12 wounded. A bomb targeting police in Jihad killed three and wounded 12 more. In Ghazaliyah, mortars killed two people and wounded 14 more. An Amil blast left one dead and two wounded.
Explosions were also reported in Jakouk and Rusafa. Other blasts were heard in Abu Dsheer, Bayaa, and Kamaliya. Even mixed Shit’ite Sunni neighborhoods, including Waziriya, Yarmouk, and Eghraiat were reportedly attacked. Some of these blasts, however, could be represented in the above attacks.
Separately, an Iraq icommander responsible for security in the Karrada area of Baghdad was detained for questioning after gunmen were able to attack a church under his authority. The government has promised support in repairing the church, while also compensating victim’s families.
In Mosul, a roadside bomb wounded four soldiers in Adan, while three policemen were wounded in central Mosul.
A blast in Khanaqin killed four people, including police and a militant, while also injuring two policemen at the scene. The police were transporting an al-Qaeda suspect at the time of the blast.
A man was killed when a bomb planted outside his Fallujah home exploded.
Gunmen killed a trader in Kirkuk. In a separate small arms attack, a Sahwa officer was killed.
Authorities in Turkey identified a suicide bomber responsible for Sunday’s blast in Istanbul as being a member of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
