Posted on 12/25/2003 7:07:07 AM PST by JohnHuang2
OPERATION: IRAQI FREEDOM
Baghdad hotel hit
by mortar fire
Powerful explosion reported at Sheraton, no injuries
Posted: December 24, 2003
1:24 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.comA powerful explosion rocked the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel in Baghdad today.
The hotel is known for housing Westerners, including reporters and civilian contractors.
Fox News journalists staying at the heavily guarded central Baghdad hotel reported feeling a massive concussion and spotted a hole in the roof near the neon lettering that spells out "Sheraton."
Coalition officials said the building was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG. There are no reports of injuries, and the blast caused minimal damage.
"We've been informed that two Iraqi individuals in two cars fired a mortar round at the hotel. Security guards fired at them as they fled," Pvt. Michael Williams told Reuters.
"This one was close, very close," Fox producer Scott Heidler said. "The building shook and you could feel the sucking of air when an explosion happens. You could feel the air move right around you."
Automatic gunfire was heard immediately following the blast.
Capt. Jason Beck of the Army's 1st Armored Division told the Associated Press the U.S. military was also firing on targets in the area of the hotel at the time.
Last month, the hotel was hit during a rocket attack launched from donkey-pulled carts at it and the Palestine Hotel. The fifth-floor atrium roof above the reception area was destroyed, injuring two people.
The blast comes amid intelligence that Saddam loyalists plan to step up terror attacks during the Christmas holiday.
Fox reports military officials believe as many as 14 terrorist cells are active in Baghdad.
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