Explosion hits Italian police headquarters in Nassiriyah

Associated Press ^ | 11-12-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Iraqis and the Italian military police may have suffered some injuries in the blast, the official said, but more details were not immediately available.

Italy has sent about 2,500 troops to help the reconstruction in Iraq.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

ROME, Nov 12, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- An explosion on Wedneday rocked the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri police in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriyah, and there could be some injuries among Iraqis and Italians, Carabinieri said in Rome.

An explosive device went off at about 10:40 a.m. local time (0740 GMT) at the multinational specialist unit in the southern city, the Carabinieri said in a statement. The statement said that the explosion occurred in front of the base, near the Iraqi chamber of commerce.

"From the initial reports, there may be wounded among the Iraqi population and Carabinieri," the statement said.

[RobFromGa]

Blast at Italian Police HQ in Iraq Kills Six

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

ROME — At least six are dead after a huge blast in Nasiriyah (search) rocked the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri police (search) on Wednesday, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

Reuters news service also reported that a U.S. 4th Infantry Division (search) soldier was killed north of Baghdad after an explosive device was detonated underneath the vehicle he was traveling in.

The Italian president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (search), called the bombing a "terrorist act."

The explosive device went off at about 10:40 a.m. Iraqi time at the multinational specialist unit in the southern city, the Italian paramilitary police said in a statement. The statement said that the explosion occurred in front of the base, near the Iraqi chamber of commerce.

A Carabinieri official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report by the Italian news agency ANSA that six Italians were dead.

Another official, Maj. Roberto Riccardi, said the building was in flames, and that some Italians may be under the debris, although details were difficult to come by because communication had been severed.

"We cannot exclude the possibility that there are soldiers under the rubble," he said in a telephone interview.

Carabinieri also said there may also be injuries among Iraqis.

Italy has sent about 2,300 troops to help the reconstruction in Iraq. About 300 Carabinieri are based in the Nasiriyah camp, along with 110 Romanians. Everyone was believed to have been inside the building at the time of the blast, because it occurred early in the morning, Riccardi said.

Since August, vehicle bombs have targeted several international buildings, including the United Nations headquarters, the offices of the international Red Cross, the Baghdad Hotel and the Turkish and Jordanian embassies in Baghdad.

Nasiriyah, a Shiite city, had been relatively quite in recent months, although it was the scene of heavy fighting during the war. It was where the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in March and where a number of Americans were captured, including Jessica Lynch.

There have been no combat-related fatalities among Italian troops serving in the multinational force.

The Italian official heading up U.S. efforts to recover Iraq's looted antiquities, Pietro Cordone, was in a car that came under mistaken U.S. fire in September in northern Iraq. Cordone's Iraqi interpreter was killed in the shooting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[samtheman]

Sad for the six dead Italians.

[leadpenny]

MSNBC reporting that 12 are dead and more trapped.

[leadpenny]

Charles McCord (Imus in the Morning) said that 300 Italian police are housed in the city. Along with them are 100 Romanian police.

Jim Meceda (NBC) just told Imus that, "There is no doubt that the insurgency is spreading."

[Int]

It seems to be a truck suicide-bombing.

The Italian ANSA news agency says: "Un camion bomba guidato da un kamikaze salta in aria nella nella base italiana a Nassyria. La palazzina colpita e' in fiamme. Molti i feriti. "

Three Italian soldiers also appear to be among the 12 dead. More in Italian

[LibertySailor]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20031112/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[LibertySailor]

Is NBC trying to talk our soldiers' morale down?

Maceda needs to be more thoughtful with his words

[LibertySailor]

Is Italy a major team player in the war on terror?

I had no idea Italy was our ally in Iraq

[leadpenny]

I didn't get the feeling that he was trying to overstate the situation. Imus went on to ask him what he meant by the statement and Mecada said it was based on the increase in the number of attacks.

[LibertySailor]

Well, then that is probably fine.

However, the news needs to keep our troops morale up with good news from the war.

[LibertySailor]

I can't read Italian.

Is there a translation screen I can download to translate it to English?

[leadpenny]

I didn't know that Imus had a "line" on the situation in Iraq. Meceda is on the ground in Baghdad and reports on a regular basis.. I get the feeling that Imus is as confused about "Iraq" as I am.

[Dog]

Another truck bombing??

I guess General Abzid's warning is going unheeded.

[section9]

More than likely, this was probably some of the local Ba'ath come down from Baghdad to make trouble in Shi'a country. Our relationships with the Sheiks and the local clerics in this area have been excellent. Car bombs can be used anywhere, of course. So they can easily give the impression that the "resistance" is everywhere.

When, in fact, it is not.

But the Western media will buy into anything.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Dog]

I had the same thought...

[leadpenny]

Thanks. But, they are just reporting what has happened.

It does appear as if those who would prevent us from completing our mission are taking it to us. I understand Nasiriyah has been relatively quiet.