2011 Al Diwaniyah bombing

21 June 2011 Al Diwaniyah bombing
LocationAl Diwaniyah, Iraq
Date21 June 2011
7:30–8:00am local time – (UTC+3)
TargetProvincial governor (possibly)
Attack type
Suicide bombing, attempted assassination
Deaths27+
Injured30+
PerpetratorsIslamic State of Iraq[1]

21 June 2011 Al Diwaniyah bombing was a suicide bombing that occurred outside the provincial governor's house. It is believed he was the intended target.[2] He survived the attack, however at least 27 people were killed, and over 30 wounded in the attack.[3]

Attack

The attack occurred at approximately 7:30 am local time when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the governor's house.[4] The second attack is believed to have happened a short time later as emergency services arrived at the area.[5]

The attack occurred during the morning switch-over of security personnel.[6] As a result, the majority of casualties in the blast were that of security personal to the governor. It is believed the governor himself was not harmed in the attack. It is the first major attack in the city, since 2009 when a bomb attached to a bus killed six people and 2007 when a roadside bomb targeted a police patrol, killing seven officers.[7]

Aftermath

The attacks led to further debate, especially among the top political factions in Iraq, as to whether the United States should remain in Iraq for security purposes, as despite the fact many feel that the violence has reduced in recent times, many are worried about the situation once the U.S pulls its final troops out of the country on 31 December 2011.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "ISI Claims Suicide Bombings in Basra, Diwaniyah". SITE Institute. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Deadly blast at Iraqi governor's compound". Al Jazeera English. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  3. ^ Fakrhildeen, Saad; Salman, Raheem (21 June 2011). "Attack on governor's compound in Iraq kills at least 27". LA Times. Baghdad, Iraq. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Blast kills 20 near Iraq governor's home". msnbc. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  5. ^ Schmit, Michael. S; Khalid D. Ali (21 June 2011). "Suicide Bombers Kill at Least 27 in Southern Iraq". New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  6. ^ "25 killed, 34 wounded in twin car bomb explosions in Iraq's Diwaniyah". xinhuanet. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  7. ^ Salaheddin, Sinan; Ahmed, Hamid; Abdul-Zahra ,Qassim (21 June 2011). "22 killed in suicide car bombings south of Baghdad". Iraq: Associated Press. Retrieved 21 June 2011.[dead link]
  8. ^ "22 killed in Iraq suicide bombings". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2011.