Car Bomb Attack In Iraq; outside Shiite Islam's holiest mosques

Sky News ^ | 08-29-03

[Brian S]

At least nine people have been killed and 15 wounded in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi town of Najaf.

The explosion was outside Shiite Islam's holiest mosques, it is reported.

Sky's foreign affairs editor, Tim Marshall, says it is likely the attack was as a result of in-fighting between Shiite Muslims rather than an attack on Coalition trrops

[Brian S]

I heard a NPR radio report on this explosion and it apparently took place during a packed mosque prayer session. They are reporting shops around the mosque leveled.

Developing...

[ChadGore]

I heard the same report. NPR had a guy right inside the mosque at the time of the bombing.

[ChadGore]

This from: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030829/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_mosque_bombing_1 Car Bombing at Iraq Mosque Kills Five
4 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Arab satellite broadcasters Friday reported a car bombing during Friday prayers in Najaf at the Imam Ali mosque, the most holy shrine for Shiite Muslims in Iraq (news - web sites). The reports said five people were killed and dozens injured.
The reports could not immediately be confirmed, although there has been considerable unrest among the religious communities in the holy city, 110 miles southwest of Baghdad.

The latest report of a bombing in Najaf comes one week after a bomb exploded outside the house of one of Iraqi's most important Shiite clerics, killing three guards and injuring 10 others including family members.

The gas cylinder was placed along the outside wall of the home of Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim in Najaf. It exploded just after noon prayers on July 22.

The cleric suffered scratches on his neck, according to Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, a member of Iraq's U.S.-picked Governing Council and leader of what was the armed wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, headquartered in Iran before the war.

The Al-Hakims are one of the most influential families in the Shiite community in Iraq.

Iraqi newspapers reported two weeks ago that the cleric al-Hakim had received threats against his life. He also is one of three top Shiite leaders threatened with death by a rival Shiite cleric shortly after Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was toppled April 9.

A day after Saddam's ouster, a mob in Najaf hacked to death a Shiite cleric who had returned from exile. Abdul Majid al-Khoei was killed when a meeting called to reconcile rival Shiite groups erupted into a melee at the Shrine of Ali, one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites. Shiites make up some 60 percent of Iraq's 24 million population.

[sgtbono2002]

These people acnt live with each other any better than they can live with their neighbors.

[dawn53]

I heard it on NPR too.

But it's just now being reported on the cable channel news.

Guess the NPR guy was right there and that's why they scooped everyone.

NPR guy says scores are dead.

[Brian S]

Sky Latest:

At least 17 people have been killed and 15 wounded in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi town of Najaf.

[ChadGore]

bttt

[prairiebreeze]

Nope, and that's what's so discouraging in the long term view. These people have fought their neighbors and each other for centuries. Hard to think that will change anytime soon.

So now they blow up their mosques. These creatures respect absolutely nothing. Except strength and power. What a fetid cesspool corner of the planet.

Prairie

[ChadGore]

CAR BOMB ATTACK IN IRAQ At least 17 people have been killed and 15 wounded in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi town of Najaf. The explosion was outside Shiite Islam's holiest mosque, the Imam Ali, it is reported. Sky's foreign affairs editor, Tim Marshall, says it is likely the attack was as a result of in-fighting between Shiite Muslims rather than an attack on Coalition troops. In a separate development, the deputy security chief for the Kurds in the northeastern Iraqi province of Sulaimaniya has been shot dead by Islamic militant group Ansar al-Islam, linked by Washington to al-Qaeda, an official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan AFP reported. More follows . .

The Imam Ali mosque

[neutrino]

Is that music I hear? Why, yes, I do believe it is! It's the world's smallest violin being played!

[SCR1]

And people wonder why Sadaam ruled with an iron fist...

[Brian S]

Reuters report:

Up to 20 Killed in Najaf Car Bomb, Shi'ite Group Says
Fri August 29, 2003 07:47 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Up to 20 people were killed in a car bomb attack outside the main mosque in the Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Najaf just after prayers on Friday, a leading Shi'ite group said.

"It happened shortly after prayers. It was a car bomb and up to 20 people were killed," Adel Abdul Mahdi, an official of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), told Reuters in Baghdad after receiving reports from Najaf.

[dawn53]

I just told my husband that you couldn't even imagine a situation like this outside of the Islamic faith.

It would be like the American Baptists bombing a Southern Baptist church because they didn't agree with each other.

From what I understand this was due to a rift within the Shiite community. Unbelievable!

[Imal]

Looks like an Equal Opportunity Destroyer.

[Pikamax]

why is anyone surprised? people had plans to destroy Mecca.

and sadr jr is not long for this world.

[Elkiejg]

From what I understand this was due to a rift within the Shiite community. Unbelievable!

This is what happens when you try to deal with people still living in the 11th. century. Maybe they can kill each other off, then our troops can come home. In short -- THE HELL WITH THEM ALL.

[prairiebreeze]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/972567/posts

Check this thread out. More proof that Muslims have to be fighting somebody.

Prairie

[dennisw]

Must be that Muslim holy day Bombadon

[AdmSmith]

You are right al Sadrs jr is the prime suspect. However with the assistance of one branch of the Iranian intel services under the control of the militants in Tehran. The objective is to stop Najaf from becoming (once again) the center of Shi'ia theology and thus a threat to the theocracy in Iran.

posted 3 days ago:
Unfortúnately we can expect more attacs against Sistani and Hakim, not to mention another attack against Hussein Khomeini, unless al-Sadr and his controls in Tehran are stopped.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/970472/posts?page=28#28

[dennisw]

And people wonder why Sadaam ruled with an iron fist......

We should haul out Saddam's pastic shredder and put it back into use. (/joke)