Suicide bomb leaves 35 dead in Baghdad restaurant

BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up in a crowded Baghdad restaurant frequented by the security forces during breakfast yesterday, killing 35 people and wounding at least 25 more, police said.

“Body parts are all over the place, we are still collecting them,” a police officer at the scene said. It was one of the biggest attacks in the capital in recent months and came the day after at least six people were killed and 25 wounded by two car bombs in a mainly Shi’ite area of Baghdad.The police officer said at least four Iraqi police patrols were having their breakfast at the restaurant when the bomber struck.A police explosives expert on the scene said that the bomber was also carrying a bag full of explosives.”A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest went into a restaurant,” another police official said shortly after the loud blast which could be heard from several kilometres away, rocking the city shortly after 9:30am.The official said the restaurant, which was crowded with diners, was known to be regularly frequented by Iraqi security forces.One witness, Khadem Mohammed, said two Iraqi army cars had arrived at the restaurant around 15 minutes before the blast.”It targeted the Iraqi army, police and civilians because the restaurant was full of people,” he said.A police officer who identified himself only as Ahmed said: “We were on patrol …We heard the blast and I was the first one to arrive on the scene.There were 32 dead and some of the wounded died while we were taking them to hospital.”The US military, which sent reinforcements to help secure the site, said initial reports had put the death toll at 25, and medical sources at two hospitals also spoke of at least 25 dead.Iraq’s Shi’ite- and Kurdish-led government is fighting a Sunni Arab insurgency that has killed thousands of people since the March 2003 US-led invasion.Security forces are a frequent target of insurgent attacks.Washington, which still has 150 000 troops in Iraq, is hoping that Dec.15 elections will move the country towards democracy, but sectarian tensions remain and the insurgency shows no sign of abating.Suicide attacks, roadside bombs and gunmen kill dozens of people every day – some in targeted attacks on government officials or other public figures, many others unknown victims in markets, mosques or restaurants.Police said yesterday the brother of Iraq’s parliamentary speaker Hajem al-Hassani had been abducted on Tuesday in the northern city of Kirkuk.Government officials are frequently targeted by insurgents for assassination, while kidnapping has been a common tactic by both insurgents and criminals looking to make a profit.- Nampa-ReutersIt was one of the biggest attacks in the capital in recent months and came the day after at least six people were killed and 25 wounded by two car bombs in a mainly Shi’ite area of Baghdad.The police officer said at least four Iraqi police patrols were having their breakfast at the restaurant when the bomber struck.A police explosives expert on the scene said that the bomber was also carrying a bag full of explosives.”A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest went into a restaurant,” another police official said shortly after the loud blast which could be heard from several kilometres away, rocking the city shortly after 9:30am.The official said the restaurant, which was crowded with diners, was known to be regularly frequented by Iraqi security forces.One witness, Khadem Mohammed, said two Iraqi army cars had arrived at the restaurant around 15 minutes before the blast.”It targeted the Iraqi army, police and civilians because the restaurant was full of people,” he said.A police officer who identified himself only as Ahmed said: “We were on patrol …We heard the blast and I was the first one to arrive on the scene.There were 32 dead and some of the wounded died while we were taking them to hospital.”The US military, which sent reinforcements to help secure the site, said initial reports had put the death toll at 25, and medical sources at two hospitals also spoke of at least 25 dead.Iraq’s Shi’ite- and Kurdish-led government is fighting a Sunni Arab insurgency that has killed thousands of people since the March 2003 US-led invasion.Security forces are a frequent target of insurgent attacks.Washington, which still has 150 000 troops in Iraq, is hoping that Dec.15 elections will move the country towards democracy, but sectarian tensions remain and the insurgency shows no sign of abating.Suicide attacks, roadside bombs and gunmen kill dozens of people every day – some in targeted attacks on government officials or other public figures, many others unknown victims in markets, mosques or restaurants.Police said yesterday the brother of Iraq’s parliamentary speaker Hajem al-Hassani had been abducted on Tuesday in the northern city of Kirkuk.Government officials are frequently targeted by insurgents for assassination, while kidnapping has been a common tactic by both insurgents and criminals looking to make a profit.- Nampa-Reuters