Iraq - Grenade Hits Jordan's Embassy in Baghdad

Associated Press | August 7, 2003

[HAL9000]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A rocket-propelled grenade was fired Thursday into the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, and one man was seen carried away on a stretcher.

It was unclear who was behind the late morning attack, but tensions between the neighboring countries have been high due to Jordan's support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Authorities pushed onlookers away from the embassy, fearing there might be a second attack, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

While Jordan is a major entry point into Iraq and remains a large trading partner, many Iraqis are resentful that Jordan dropped its support for Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War, and allowed U.S. troops to use its soil as a base during the latest war.

Jordan's King Abdullah II last week granted "humanitarian asylum" to two daughters of Saddam, whose husbands took refuge in Jordan but were lured back and killed by Saddam's regime in 1996.

[HAL9000]

At least three dead in attack at Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A huge explosion thought to have been a car bomb rocked the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad Thursday morning, and at least three people were killed.

The shells of three burned-out cars sat outside the wall of the embassy compound at the west edge of the Iraqi capital. Atop the cars was what appeared to be the chassis of a minibus. Nothing else was left of that vehicle.

Two of the dead were still in the burned-out cars. The body of the third victim was taken away in an ambulance.

U.S. soldiers arrived in two tanks and six Humvees soon after the blast, which sent out a huge plumes of thick black smoke towering above the embassy compound. There were thought to have been about 30 people in the compound at the time of the blast.

A Sudanese man working as a waiter at the embassy said those inside heard the explosion and many of them suffered minor injuries from the shock of the blast. He was bleeding from the left side of his face.

A Jordanian official, speaking in the Jordanian capital of Amman on condition of anonymity, said initial reports indicated the explosion may have been due to a car bomb. An earlier report had said it may have been a rocket-propelled grenade.

[Mo1]

FNC is just reporting on this now .. saying it might have been a car bomb

[Aaron0617]

Is it because of the Saddam daughters or support for the Iraq war?

[HAL9000]

AFP via Babelfish -

At least 4 killed in the explosion in front of the embassy from Jordan in Baghdad

At least four people who were on board a car were killed Thursday morning in an explosion in front of the embassy from Jordan in Baghdad, noted a journalist of the AFP.

A male nurse affirmed with the AFP that "20 people were wounded and certain died".

Little before, of the witnesses had given a report on several casualties in the explosion of a bomb in front of the embassy from Jordan in Baghdad. Several cars were also destroyed by the explosion, according to these witnesses.

[HAL9000]

BBC News -

Jordan's Iraq embassy attacked

At least three people have been killed in a large explosion at the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad, say reports.

Confusion surrounds the type of blast, with different reports of a rocket-propelled grenade, bomb, and car bomb.

Those killed are thought to have been in cars parked close to the embassy.

It is unclear how many people were injured in the explosion, with reports suggesting up to 20 people have been taken to hospital.

Jordan attracted the wrath of some Iraqis and neighbouring countries when it backed the latest US-led war on Iraq, and allowed troops to use its territory as a base.

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More from Associated Press -

Right after the blast, scores of young Iraqi men rushed the gates of the embassy and began smashing portaits of Jordan's King Abdullah II and his late father, King Hussein.

The men chanted anti-Jordanian slogans.

A witness said the bomb seemed to have been detonated remotely and was in an empty minibus. He said the blast shook buildings and broke windows hundreds of yards away.

One wall of the embassy compound was blown down, revealing a generator, also apparently destroyed in the blast.

ensions between the neighboring countries have been high due to Jordan's support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

While Jordan is a major entry point into Iraq and remains a large trading partner, many Iraqis are resentful that Jordan dropped its support for Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War, and allowed U.S. troops to use its soil as a base during the latest war.

King Abdullah II last week granted "humanitarian asylum" to two daughters of Saddam, whose husbands took refuge in Jordan but were lured back and killed by Saddam's regime in 1996.

[Aaron0617]

aarrgggg..still isn't clear why.

Why didn't AP just grab one of those guys and interview them?

[Keith in Iowa]

-->Why didn't AP just grab one of those guys and interview them?

They're waiting for the NY Times to make-up what reallty happened.

[Sacajaweau]

I don't believe we used Jordan as a base but we were allowed to pass through Jordan. I believe we set up something at the Iraqi-Jordan border since many Iraqis fled there during the Gulf War. It is in a strategic position, bordering the Palestinian territory. I believe the Iraqi airports and access roads to Jordan in this western area of Iraq were among the first seized by us.

The attack was likely just a reminder by the bad guys of our close relations with Jordan and what happens to people who are GOOD!.

[Aaron0617]

Good exclusive video of this on CNN. Iraqis buring pics of Jordan's king, burning rugs etc. Shame the camera guy didn't tap on one of the looter's shoulders and ask. Why are you doing this?

Rym Brahimi reporting..doesn't know why either. Maybe she'll leave that hotel and go find out.

[yonif]

U.S. officer on scene: at least 8 dead in attack on Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad

[Aaron0617]

10 dead and 30+ wounded.

[Dog]

I just saw a report this was a car bomb......with a follow on RPG/grenade attack........doesn't that sound like AQ? Just tossing this out for discussion ......don't have any proof this is AQ..

[Dog]

Just saw a report ....seems the death toll is not as high. Reports of less than 7 dead....media might be high balling the figure.

[Coop]

Yeah, it could be Al Qaeda, if the stories are true. Multiple attacks on a target representing one of AQ's strategic points - brotherhood of Islam type of thing. But I really don't think Al Qaeda leadership would bother with an operation in Iraq. Too risky - too many U.S. troops and intel types to mess things up. My two cents say it's probably just the result of all those terrorists pouring into Iraq, some of whom undoubtedly read AQ's manual and/or attended their training camps. But the order didn't come from the top evil ones.

[yonif]

7-12 dead in blast at Jordan's Baghdad embassy
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD, Iraq


BAGHDAD, Iraq

A massive car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in the Iraqi capital Thursday morning. Rescue workers and an official at a nearby
hospital said between seven and 12 people were killed and 28 wounded, many of them seriously.

Shortly after the blast, young Iraqi men stormed the embassy gate and began destroying pictures of Jordanian King Abdullah II and his late father, King Hussein. They were shouting anti-Jordanian chants, but were quickly dispersed by American forces and Iraqi police.

The bomb was believed to have been planted in a minibus parked outside the walled embassy compound and detonated remotely. Many cars were gutted and two bodies were seen still sitting in the vehicles. The chassis of the minibus landed on top of three of the burned out cars.

An American tank was parked outside the embassy compound on the west edge of Baghdad. Soldiers in armored vehicles and Humvees cordoned off the area.

Mandoh Gaahi, who witnessed the explosion, said the blast shook buildings and broke windows hundreds of meters away.

Two of the dead were still inside the shells of two cars. One mangled vehicle could be seen on top of a building next to the embassy.

A Sudanese man working as a waiter at the embassy said about 30 people inside heard the explosion and many of them suffered minor injuries from the shock of the blast. He was bleeding from the left side of his face.

One wall of the embassy compound was blown down, revealing a generator, also apparently destroyed in the blast.

Tensions between the neighboring countries have been high because of Jordan's support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

While Jordan is a major entry point into Iraq and remains a large trading partner, many Iraqis are resentful that Jordan dropped its support for Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War, and allowed U.S. troops to use its soil as a base during the latest war.

King Abdullah II last week granted "humanitarian asylum" to two daughters of Saddam, whose husbands took refuge in Jordan but were lured back and killed by Saddam's regime in 1996.

[jriemer]

I just saw a report this was a car bomb......with a follow on RPG/grenade attack........doesn't that sound like AQ? Just tossing this out for discussion ......don't have any proof this is AQ..

There hasn't been too much of a lag between Jordan giving the delightful Saddam daughters exile and their Embassy being carbombed. Having the locals rush into the still smoking building to try and loot the building doesn't try to send a "message" - does it?

Saddam still has a vestige of control in Baghad; however, this could be one of the last throws of a dying beast.

[Dog]

I have noticed something that lag of several days without an American death was so the Saddam loyalists could move their operations into downtown Baghdad. Watch for more attacks aimed at civilians in the cities......they want to force a wedge between us and the population..

[Sacajaweau]

Dog, You're a good chess player...always thinking ahead. You're probably right. A new game, new players and new location. SAME INTENT!!!

I'm almost thinking Saddam was "on the move" simultaneously with the attack.