Date: 2 March 2004

Location: Iraq: Kadhimiya and Karbala

Type of event: terrorism

Description:

Multiple suicide bombings at two locations in Iraq killed 188 and injured 430 (casualty figures remain uncertain, with reported fatalities ranging from 140 to 271), in both cases at about 10:00 AM. Three suicide bombers attacked a shrine at Kadhimiya, a suburb of Baghdad, killing 67 and injuring 200. Another suicide bomber struck a shrine in Karbala, killing 121 and injuring 230. Crowds celebrating the Shia festival of Ashura were targeted in both locations. The attacks may have involved the participation of individuals from Iran. Between 29 and 40 of those killed were Iranian pilgrims.

Consequences: 188 killed, 652 injured

References:

• BBC, "Iran warns pilgrims to avoid Iraq," 3 March 2004, BBC News, on line [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3529719.stm].
• BBC, "Iraq Shias massacred on holy day," 2 March 2004, BBC News, on line [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3524589.stm].
• BBC, "Iraqis mourn Shia massacre dead," 3 March 2004, BBC News, on line [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3527221.stm].
• Drummond, James, "Iraqi Shias turn out to mourn their dead," 3 March 2004, Financial Times.com, on line [http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/].
• IBC, 2005, The Iraq Body Count Database, on line [http://www.iraqbodycount.net/database/bodycount_count_down.php].
• Muir, Jim, "Iran's press divided on bombings," 3 March 2004, BBC News, on line [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3529415.stm].
• Salama, Sammy, "Possible suspects and motives for the suicide bombings in Iraq," 30 March 2004, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, on line [http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/040330.htm].

© 2017 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 26 November 2017.
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