Posted on 09/04/2004 9:52:25 PM PDT by Calpernia
A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb yesterday outside a police academy in Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq, as hundreds of trainees and civilians were leaving for the day, killing at least 20 people and wounding 36, authorities said.
Separately, U.S. and Iraqi forces fought with insurgents in another part of northern Iraq after beginning an operation to destroy an alleged militant cell in the town of Tal Afar, the U.S. military said. At least eight people were killed and 50 injured, hospital officials said.
Ambulances went to the explosion in Kir-kuk, where seven cars were on fire. Rescue personnel took the wounded away on stretchers. Some waited for help on the building's steps.
"This is a terrorist act against members of Iraqi police who were heading to their homes," said Col. Sarhat Qadir of the Kirkuk police.
Iraqi police sealed off roads leading to the explosion site. Iraqi police fired warning shots into the air to disperse people racing to the area to learn the fate of their relatives.
Militants waging a 16-month-old insurgency in Iraq have used car bombings, sabotage and kidnappings in an effort to destabilize the country and drive out coalition forces and reconstruction workers.
Yesterday's bombing was the latest in a string of attacks specifically aimed at Iraqis working for the interim government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, which is backed by the United States.
Insurgents see police as collaborators with coalition forces, who are strug-gling to restore order. Militants have blown up police stations all over the country, gunned down officers in drive-by shootings and battered police stations with mortar barrages and rocket-propelled grenades.
In Tal Afar, about 120 miles northwest of Kirkuk, a U.S. observation Ki-o-wa helicopter was hit by enemy fire and forced to make an emergency landing amid the fighting, U.S. Army Capt. Angela Bowman said. The aircraft's two crew members were wounded, she said.
At least eight people died and another 50 were wounded during clashes in the city, said Fawazi Mohammed, the head of the local hospital. Many of the deaths were caused when a mortar shell hit a marketplace, authorities said.
American soldiers killed two insurgents and captured another, while three Iraqi national guardsmen were injured in the fighting, the military said.
A U.S. Stryker Brigade vehicle securing the helicopter's site later came un-der attack by rocket-propelled gren-ades, the military said. Troops fought back, killing two attackers.
Ping
you really have to wonder why they allow any unscreened vehicles to park or drive past these police stations, don't they understand what is going on?
When will these poor brainwashed people who are trying to install democracy in Irac figure out; If they will turn the murderers identy in to the police their lives will be saved.How long will it take for them to realize this simple lesson??????????
>>>any unscreened vehicles to park or drive...
You live in my area (tri state). I don't remember if you have young children; so I don't know if you have noticed.
Vehicles parked by schools and churches have been getting scoped fast and hard.
My kids started school on the 1st. I got a paper issued by the school (first time since kids have attended) that I have to keep on my dashboard in order to run into the school and leave my car on the street outside the school.
Any cars parked outside that don't have it get ticketed, watched and towed.
>>>If they will turn the murderers identy in to the police their lives will be saved.
Years of being terrorized, their lives may be saved...but a relatives body part may come in the mail. :(
haven't noticed that. I have noticed that more buildings are putting in those concrete "posts" that would stop a vehicle from driving into the lobby.
its going to take the iraqis a long time to develop their own security forces. for starters, we've got to teach these guys to fire at the enemy, instead of into the air.
>>>, we've got to teach these guys to fire at the enemy, instead of into the air.
Valid point.
It is pretty clear that the Muslims kill each other more efficiently than they kill us. I thank God I was born an American.
"I thank God I was born an American."
Ditto.
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