Attacks Focus on Northern Iraq: 7 Killed, 45 Wounded

Today’s attacks appeared to take place mostly in the northern part of the country. The Kirkuk province alone saw several, some perhaps coordinated, bombings. Overall, at least seven Iraqis were killed and 45 more were wounded in new violence. Also, an unknown number of people were injured during incidents in Latifiya and Samarra.

Reports of attacks from the south may be light due to the Arbaeen holiday, which culminates this weekend. At times, the throngs of pilgrims traveling to and from Karbala have strangled movement around Baghdad and locations south of the capital. When travel is difficult, the ability for journalists to file reports is likewise hindered.

In Kirkuk, a blast near a police chief’s home in a Kurdish neighborhood wounded about eight people. Then, a suicide bomber at another police chief’s home left thirteen wounded. A bike bomb killed one person. Gunmen wounded another police official. Rockets struck the airport. Another blast near a liquor store left no casualties.

In nearby Riyadh, a bomb wounded three people at the home of a council member. Two people were wounded when a bomb exploded near the home of police official. A blast at the home of an employee of the health ministry wounded three more people.

Two bombs in Duquq wounded two people.

In Mosul, three gunmen were killed during clashes with police; one of them was an Arab national. A suicide bomber wounded two policemen.

An I.E.D. in Hammam Alil left one policeman dead and another wounded.

A dead body bearing gunshot wounds was found in Khanaqin.

In Baghdad, a blast wounded two people in Adhamiya.

A tribal sheikh’s brother was wounded during a bombing in the Hamrim area.

A bomb in Baquba wounded three soldiers. A blast that wounded a civilian was followed by a second one that wounded a policeman.

A police officer was wounded in a triple bombing in Tuz Khormato.

In Moalemeen, a bomb wounded a civilian.

Mortars injured several people in Latifiya.

Several people were injured during demonstrations in Samarra, when police fired rounds into the air. The demonstrators were demanding that Samara Operations Command and Federal Police leave the area. They also want a speedy court martial for a policeman accused of murdering a civilian.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.