Posted on 07/15/2004 6:09:28 AM PDT by TexKat
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Attackers blew up five alcohol stores along a street in a Christian district of Baghdad overnight, the latest in a series of such strikes by suspected Muslim radicals.
The attacks devastated stockpiles of liquor and damaged other shops nearby but did not cause any injuries, witnesses and staff said Thursday.
Shopkeepers were hard at work trying to repair the damage, pulling shards of metal out of their store fronts and sweeping pieces of broken glass from the pavement, an AFP correspondent reported.
Witnesses confirmed that five liquor stores were targeted in the attack along Al-Thariba avenue at about 11 pm (1900 GMT) and accused the police of doing little to try to stop the onslaught.
"The operation was carried out by an organised group. Loud explosions revereberated around the neighbourhood for two or three minutes," said local resident Najim Abdallah.
"The windows of my house collapsed inwards and I spotted two armed men fleeing the scene," Abdallah said, adding: "My two-year-old son was badly traumatised and left unable to say anything for two hours."
Al-Thariba street is a busy shopping avenue in the southeast Baghdad with middle class families living above the stores, which sell a range of goods from mobile phones to fruit and vegetables.
Ibraz Abu Salam is an alcohol seller on the street whose store escaped the attack, but he said the impact was equally devastating.
"I have closed my shop and I am not going to open it again," Salam said. "I do not know what I am going to do anymore to learn a living."
Radical Muslims disapprove of the alcohol trade and attacks against liquor stores, typically owned by Christians, in Iraq have increased in recent weeks.
Muslim gunmen sprayed bullets and lobbed grenades at an alcohol shop in central Baghdad last Sunday before kidnapping the owner's brother-in-law, while police at the time said four other similar attacks had happened that week.
On July 10, in the restive city of Baquba northwest of Baghdad, four liquor stores were blown up almost simultaneously. One of the attacks killed a passerby.
A US soldier on patrol after Iraqi militants targeted an alcohol store in Baghdad. Attackers blew up five alcohol stores along a street in a Christian district of the Iraqi capital -- the latest in a series of such strikes by suspected Muslim radicals.(AFP/File/Sabah Arar)
If they start blowing up grocery stores Micheal Moore will change his tune about the need for troops in Iraq. . . . .
They've advanced on the timeline of history from 700 A.D. to Chicago, 1930.
Sounds like they need an Abdul Capone to rise up and assert control over the situation.
LOL!!
This outta finally get the Libs with the program. " Booxe being bombed! Call in the nukes!" I mean 3000 Americans didn't get'um mad but wasted booze,I mean c'mon.
The horror of it all, now they have gone to far!!!!
MADD is in Baghdad?
An Iraqi youth surveys the damage to his father's alcohol shop after it came under attack in Baghdad in this picture taken on July 14, 2004. At least seven alcohol shops have been bombed or shot at in the Iraqi capital in the past two days, shop owners and witnesses said, in the latest in a wave of suspected religion-backed violence against alcohol sellers. REUTERS/Ali Jasim
Yep Al Quaida's mission-
No education for women and no alcohol for anyone.
Now-the liberals might actually be squirming a bit.
Oh--BTW---this might suggest the next target could be a few stills in the backwoods of Appalachia. or yuppie home brew basements for that matter.
Actually, persecution of Christians who sell liquor has been happening in the Shi'ite areas of Basra and elsewhere for quite soem time. Many have been driven out of business, under the not so watchful eye of coalition troops.
My son who is vacationing in Baghdad tells me the locals invoke Islam when it would be to their gain but otherwise live like Southern Californicans.
Also, the helium factories would depress more-boy.I think more-boy should make another movie named," GOTTA EAT. " Bush/Cheney 2004.
In other news, Senator Edward Kennedy has reversed his previous position on Iraq and now fully supports the Bush efforts there. Kennedy said, "We've got to get those sick, twisted bastards".
"Save the Ales!"
Now there's a prime destination if I've ever heard one. I'll bet he is earning some significant "walking around" money from his part-time "job", as well.
None of that has changed since before Saddam lost power.
Funny you don't see these facts of life in Baghdad on CNN.
The horror, the horror....
When will the insanity end?
Satan doesn't care if you are a "nominal" (in name only) Islamo-nazi-fascist or a devoted one... either way you are going to his hell. But, that he has enough devotees to kill, steal and destroy everything good and righteous and peaceable is his main concern.
bump ! :^)
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