The relative peace of the last week was shattered today when seemingly coordinated attacks against Shi’ites took place. At least 39 people were killed and 125 more were wounded. The attacks came as Shi’ite pilgrims were preparing for Arba’een observances, and Sunnis were protesting the arrest of a Sunni minister’s bodyguards. Also, yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s execution.
Seven Shi’ites were killed in Mussayab. Bombs had been planted around two homes, one of them belonging to a policeman. Two of the dead were children. Two women and three men were also killed. Four people were also wounded.
Five policemen were killed and six more were wounded as they tried to defuse a bomb in Kirkuk; three more were wounded. At least one other person was killed and nine more were wounded. A clash between gunmen and Asayesh forces left two gunmen dead and one agent wounded. A Sahwa commander was assassinated.
In Baghdad, a car bomb blast targeting Shi’ite pilgrims in the Karrada district left five dead and 25 wounded. Six more pilgrims were wounded during a blast in Bayaa.
Three people were killed and 21 more were wounded in a blast in Hilla. Shi’ite pilgrims were among the casualties there, but the bomb may have been targeting the provincial governor.
A bomb killed four people and wounded a girl in Khanaqin.
Two bombs in Khalis killed two pilgrims and wounded 16 more.
Mortars killed one pilgrim and wounded 11 more in Latifiya.
A bomb targeting police in Tuz Khormato killed one and wounded another; two civilians were wounded as well.
In Mosul, three policemen were shot dead in separate locations.
Gunmen killed a man and wounded his nephew in Falluja. Three soldiers were wounded in a drive-by shooting. A policeman was wounded in another shooting.
In Baquba, gunmen attacked the home of a national reconciliation adviser, killing one bodyguard and wounding two more.
Five people were wounded in Balad Ruz when a bomb exploded.
A bomb in Riyadh wounded two civilians.
Two men allegedly planting bombs were killed in Mahalabia.
A bomb targeting police in Tikrit wounded two bystanders instead.
In Bani Saad, a bomb wounded three people.
Two houses in Hawija were blown up, but no casualties were reported.
