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Iraq bombers 'mentally impaired'
01/02/2008 21:42 - (SA)
Baghdad - Explosives strapped to two mentally impaired women were triggered by remote control in co-ordinated blasts on Friday that ripped through two Baghdad pet markets killing 64 people, an official said.
"Both women were mentally impaired. They were wearing belts containing 15 kilograms of explosives," said Major General Qasim Ata, spokesperson for the Baghdad security plan.
"The explosives were detonated by remote control," he said. Investigators had determined that the explosives were stuffed with iron slugs and designed to cause as much damage as possible.
The blasts occurred within 20 minutes of each other, killing 64 people and wounding more than 100, defence and interior ministry officials said.
President Jalal Talabani reported as many as 70 dead in "brutal attacks carried out by terrorists".
'Hallmarks of al-Qaeda'
The US military said the attacks "bear the hallmarks" of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
"This indiscriminate violence, targeting families enjoying themselves on the holy day, again shows the nature of this barbaric enemy," a statement said.
The bombings were the deadliest in Baghdad since August 1, when three car bombs killed more than 80 people.
Police said the first bomb struck the popular al-Ghazl pet market in central Baghdad at around 10:00 as hundreds of people were out enjoying the Muslim day of rest.
The second bombing about 20 minutes later rocked a pet market in the al-Jadida neighbourhood of southeast Baghdad, which was also crowded, security officials said.
The first attack killed 46 people while the second killed 18, they said.
The dead and injured were taken to five hospitals across the city.
At al-Ghazl, the head of the blonde-haired bomber was seen lying in a pool of blood, along with dead birds, as emergency workers gathered body parts and the personal effects of those killed and wounded, an AFP correspondent said.
Bodies packed into bags
Some bodies were packed into bags and put in the back of police pick-up trucks.
Emergency workers sifted through the rubble in search of a wallet, a watch, a piece of paper - anything that could help to identify the unrecognisable corpses.
Bloodied identity cards, watches and sets of prayer beads were placed one by one into a plastic box.
A cellphone lay amid the wreckage, ringing incessantly - perhaps a relative trying desperately to reach a loved one.
The carcasses of dead animals lay scattered among the human flesh, while workers hosed down the site and ambulances raced away from the market.
An official at al-Kindi hospital said at least 34 bodies had been received. "We have a disaster here. There are too many bodies to count. Many of them are just pieces of flesh," he said.
The attack on al-Ghazl was the second in months on the pet market, which opens only on Fridays and is always crowded. On November 23, two bombs hidden in boxes exploded simultaneously there, killing 13 people.
Jihadists 'far from defeated'
US commanders warn that the security situation is fragile and that while al-Qaeda is on the run and violence levels have dropped by 62% since June, the jihadists are far from defeated.
President Talabani said in a statement the attacks were revenge by insurgents.
"The terrorists have received a painful blow and they are aware that the noose around them is tightening further and further. They are committing this crime out of revenge."
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said in a statement he was "appalled" by the bomb attacks.
"These attacks, the deadliest in the city in many months, were particularly callous in targeting innocent civilians gathered at two popular pet markets," his office said.
The White House expressed solidarity with Iraqis.
"These extremists have no regard for life. We will continue to stand with the Iraqi people to defeat these terrorists," spokesperson Gordon Johndroe said.
Civilian deaths at 23-month low
Only Thursday President George W Bush singled out the resurgence of markets in Baghdad as a sign of the increased security in the city.
The latest attacks came even as Iraqi officials reported civilian deaths in January had fallen to a 23-month low.
Combined figures obtained from the defence, interior and health ministries showed that 541 Iraqis - 463 civilians, 22 soldiers and 56 policemen - were killed in January.
That figure is down from 568 in December, 606 in November, 887 in October and 840 in September.
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