3 February 2007 Baghdad market bombing

Infobox terrorist attack
title=Baghdad market bombing


caption=
location=Baghdad, Iraq
target=Sadriyah market
date=February 3, 2007
time-begin=
time-end=
timezone=UTC+3
type=Suicide truck bomb
fatalities=135
injuries=339
perps=

The 3 February 2007 Baghdad market bombing was the detonation of a large truck bomb in a busy market in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on February 3, 2007. The suicide attack killed at least 135 people and injured 339 others.cite news
title = Terror takes toll on market, vendors
url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20070206-115808-3925r.htm
work = The Washington Times
date = 2007-02-07
accessdate = 2007-02-07] The bomb, estimated to be about one ton in weight, brought down at least 10 buildings and coffee shops and obliterated market stalls in a largely Shi‘ite enclave less than a half mile from the Tigris River.cite news
first = Richard A.
last = Oppel, Jr.
coauthors = Qais Mizher
title = Dozens Killed in Baghdad Bombing
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/world/middleeast/04iraq.html?hp&ex=1170565200&en=59fcaa94aad23546&ei=5094&partner=homepage
work = The New York Times
date = 2007-02-03
accessdate = 2007-02-03]

Casualties and aftermath

The attacks killed at least 135 and injured 339 others, making it the deadliest attack since the Sadr City bombings of November 23, 2006. The blast was the worst of four massive bomb attacks in the preceding three weeks, all targeting dense Shi'ite areas in Baghdad and Al Hillah, including an attack on January 22, 2007 in another central Baghdad market that killed at least 88 and injured more than 160. The same market was hit by a series of car bombs on December 2, 2006, which killed more than 50 people. After the explosion, the closest hospital was quickly overwhelmed with patients affected by the blast. [cite news
title = 121 Killed As Baghdad Market Obliterated
url = http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2847275
work = ABC news
date = 2007-02-03
accessdate = 2007-02-03] A Health Ministry official said the death toll was likely to rise significantly. The Iraqi Interior Ministry estimated that about 1,000 people had been killed throughout Iraq in the preceding week due to gunbattles, drive-by shootings and bomb attacks. [cite news
title = Iraqi Interior Ministry estimates 1,000 killed in one week
url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/04/iraq.main/index.html
work = CNN
date = 2007-02-04
accessdate = 2007-02-04]

Timing of the attacks

According to police, the attacker was driving a truck carrying food when the explosives detonated, destroying stores and stalls that had been set up in the busy outdoor Sadriyah market. Many people were looking to purchase food before a curfew scheduled for that evening; it is likely the suicide bombers planned this in order to cause maximum casualties. [cite news
first = Kim
last = Gamel
title = Suicide bomber kills 121 in Baghdad
url = http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/02/03/series_of_bombs_hit_kirkuk_killing_2/
work = Boston Globe
date = 2007-02-03
accessdate = 2007-02-03]

References

ee also

*18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings
*Civil war in Iraq

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_baghdad_market_bomb/html/1.stm BBC photo site]