Today’s violence appeared to focus mainly on Iraqi police forces. The attacks came just a day after a controversial crackdown on alleged supporters of the now outlawed Ba’ath Party. A second mass arrest, of Arabs in predominantly Kurdish Kirkuk, is also drawing fire from critics. It is not clear if any of the attacks are related to the arrests. At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 37 more were wounded.
The Deputy Chairman of Anbar’s provincial council, Saadoun Obeid al-Shaalan, said that arrest orders for Ba’athists "showed a lack of accuracy" because they included warrants for several people who were long dead. Over 170 people accused of Ba’ath Party ties were, so far, arrested in the new crackdown. More complaints over a different set of arrests came from Iraqi parliamentarian Yassin al-Obeidi, who accused Kurdish forces of targeting Arabs in Kirkuk province.
In Baghdad, a combined roadside and suicide bombing targeted police in al-Liqaa Square killing one civilian and wounding seven others, including two policemen; the bomber’s vest is believed to have exploded prematurely. A clash broke out in Waziriya after gunmen attacked traffic policemen; four people were killed and seven more were wounded, including civilians. A roadside bomb wounded five policemen in Beirut Square. Six more Iraqis were wounded during a blast in Nahda Square. Also, mortars landed on the police academy, wounding at least two students, but possibly more.
Five policemen were wounded in a bombing in Sadr City.
A blast at a policeman’s home in Abu Ghraib killed his wife and wounded three others, including the policeman.
In Mosul, a police commander was assassinated. A policeman was killed in a separate shooting. Gunmen killed a woman and wounded another at their home.
Two Turkmen political offices were targeted by bombs in Kirkuk. Meanwhile, gunmen stormed a real estate office where they killed the owner.
Gunmen killed a man who was inside his Garma home.
A woman was shot and killed in Buhriz.
In Hit, an I.E.D. wounded a civilian.
A mosque in Balad was blown-up, but no casualties were reported.
