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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1473941/posts

Over 600 Iraqis Killed in Bridge Stampede
FOXNews/AP ^ | August 31, 2005

Posted on 08/31/2005 3:44:07 AM PDT by nuconvert

Over 600 Iraqis Killed in Bridge Stampede

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq — More than 600 pilgrims heading for a Shiite shrine in northern Baghdad (search) on Wednesday were killed in a huge crush when a railing on a bridge across the Tigris River (search) collapsed, a police commander said.

Iraqi Police told Fox News that at least 635 people were killed and at least 237 were wounded.

Brig. Gen. Khalid Hassan said that many of the people had died in the crush or were drowned after falling off the al-Aima Bridge (search).

Hassan, who commands the police in the capital's Azamiyah (search) district, said the accident occurred due to the immense crowd that tried to cross the bridge.

Police confirmed that that someone in the crowd said there may be a suicide bomber among the crowd, sparking a panic.

Television reports said about one million pilgrims from Baghdad and outlying provinces had gathered near theImam Mousa al-Kadim (search) shrine in the capital's Kazimiyah (search) district for the annual commemoration of the Shiite saint's death.

Earlier, several mortar and rocket rounds hit the area around the shrine, killing seven people and injuring at least 40. A U.S. military statement said Apache helicopters fired on the attackers after observing the rocket launches, which occurred about two hours before the bridge accident.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...