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Large Explosion (possible car bomb) in Baghdad
MSNBC

Posted on 01/17/2004 9:48:32 PM PST by saquin

MSNBC just had a special report w/ some raw video. Large explosion in central Baghdad that could be heard for miles. Near the gates of the CPA headquarters. No word on casualties. From the raw video, I saw several civilian cars damaged.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: americancivilians; casualties; cpahq; iraq
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To: TexKat
Haven't heard it on Fox. Amen to no deaths or injuries.
221 posted on 01/18/2004 2:37:51 AM PST by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
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To: windchime; MEG33
One of the 3 mideasterners that was in the mercedes benz survived the explosion but is currently hospitalized with injuries. Hes got some splaining to do.
222 posted on 01/18/2004 2:38:45 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat
Mercedes again? I don't know how the soldiers exercise restraint in getting information from these cowards. Wonder if withholding pain medication is against the 'rules'.
223 posted on 01/18/2004 2:44:16 AM PST by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
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To: TexKat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3407061.stm

At least 18 people are believed to have been killed in a suspected suicide car bombing outside the US headquarters in the centre of the Iraqi capital.
The huge blast occurred at about 0800 (0500GMT) near Assassin's Gate - a heavily fortified entrance to one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.

Most victims are thought to have been Iraqis waiting to meet US officials.

It is the deadliest attack since New Year's Eve and comes as the US tries to persuade the UN to return to Iraq.


Force of the blast

One witness who was driving by said the explosion lifted his car into the air.

Cars were set on fire in the blast, the force of which was felt across the city.

The US military says 18 people were believed killed by the blast: 16 were Iraqi civilians and two were contractors working for the US Defense Department.

(snip)

224 posted on 01/18/2004 2:50:17 AM PST by libtoken
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Suicide Bomber Kills 18 in Iraq

By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber detonated 1,000 pounds of explosives in a pickup truck outside the headquarters compound of the U.S.-led coalition Sunday, killing 18 bystanders, including two U.S. Defense Department workers, American officials said.

At least 28 people, including six Americans, were wounded by the blast, which occurred at about 8 a.m. near the "Assassin's Gate" to Saddam Hussein's former Republican Palace complex, now used by the U.S.-led occupation authority for headquarters. The gate is used by hundreds of Iraqis employed by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the formal name of the U.S.-led occupation authorities, as well as U.S. military vehicles.

It was the deadliest attack in Iraq since Saddam was captured Dec. 13 near his hometown of Tikrit. Seventeen people were killed in a suicide bombing in Khaldiyah, west of Baghdad, the day after Saddam was arrested.

U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer, who is in the United States for talks with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, called the bombing "another clear indication of the murderous and cynical intent of terrorists to undermine freedom, democracy and progress in Iraq. They will not succeed."

"Once again, it is innocent Iraqis who have been murdered by these terrorists in a senseless act of violence," Bremer said in a statement. "Our determination to work for a stable and democratic future for this country is undiminished."

The U.S. military press office initially said the 18 dead included 16 Iraqi civilians and two American civilians. The wounded included 22 Iraqi civilians, four civilians working for the Defense Department and two U.S. soldiers, the press office said.

But a military spokesman later said it was unclear whether the Defense Department casualties involved staff or contract workers.

Defense Department spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Burfeind, reached at home early Sunday, said Pentagon officials had no immediate information about the car bomb or the victims.

Col. Ralph Baker, division commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, said the explosives were packed inside a white Toyota pickup truck. He discounted witness accounts that more than one vehicle was involved.

"There was not a second car bomb," said Baker, who is in charge of security in the so-called Green Zone, a large swath of land on the west bank of the Tigris River that contains the headquarters.

Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, deputy commander of the 1st Armored Division, said the blast occurred "literally at the last point a vehicle could get to without being stopped. The barriers absorbed most of the blast."

Some witnesses said two cars may have been involved.

Salah Farhan said he was accompanying colleagues through the checkpoint when he saw a Land Cruiser try to cut to the head of the line. The vehicle exploded about two cars back from the gate, he said.

U.S. troops guarding the gate took cover when they saw the vehicle try to move to the front of the line.

The area is one of the most heavily guarded in the capital. U.S. soldiers guarding the gate usually stand about 20 yards from the road behind coils of barbed wire and concrete barriers.

One witness, Hamid Hawwam, said two cars exploded at the gate, and one of them flew into the air.

Another, Haidar Hanoun, said he was lining up for a job when a Land Cruiser and another vehicle exploded.

"It was very strong. There are a lot of injured and dead," he said.

Karar Abbas, an Iraqi civil defense trooper, said the blast engulfed seven cars parked along the street.

Mohammed Jabbar, who works at the Ministry of Planning, said he was waiting to pass through the security checkpoint when the blast occurred.

"It lifted us into the air," he said. "People fell on top of one another."

At least three separate fires were seen after the blast. One man was seen lying motionless on the side of the road as coalition soldiers and civilians helped the wounded.

Several of the wounded squatted helplessly on the ground. Some, shocked and weeping, were comforted by bystanders. One wounded man was carried away in what looked like a bed sheet.

Coalition tanks also moved in near the blazes.

"The wounded are in big numbers, there are killed, there were people whom we couldn't take to the hospital," engineer Khalid Taleb said. "It is a very crowded area."

Nabil Abdul Zahar said a friend standing with him in line for security checks was killed.

"My friend was standing behind me in the line when the explosion happened," a shaken Zahar said. "There were lots of injured. I called for help and no one came to help me. He died right there on the ground."

Iraqi police announced on loudspeakers that coalition forces will give $2,500 to anyone providing information on the perpetrators.

The explosion could be heard along the banks of the Tigris River, which flows through the center of the city of 5 million. Dense morning fog blanketed the city at the time.

The last large explosions in the center of Baghdad occurred Monday when mortars exploded near the river.

225 posted on 01/18/2004 3:00:37 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: libtoken; windchime; MEG33
CNN reporting at least 23 dead. A third hospital is reporting 3 dead there. Also reported on CNN identity of nationalities of those that died in burning cars have not been determined due to bodies burned so badly.
226 posted on 01/18/2004 3:06:08 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: windchime
MSNBC live with Kevin Sites.
227 posted on 01/18/2004 3:07:02 AM PST by leadpenny
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Also Richard Engel. Has been to the hospitals.
228 posted on 01/18/2004 3:08:15 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: TexKat
Monstrous.
229 posted on 01/18/2004 3:09:33 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: windchime; MEG33
CNN Live now, ambulance just now going in to pick up 13 bodies.
230 posted on 01/18/2004 3:10:46 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: saquin
The good news from Iraq today is an attempted bombing in Tikrit went awry. Only the bomber and his helper were killed. link
231 posted on 01/18/2004 3:48:53 AM PST by XHogPilot
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To: Travis McGee
>>He's got some stories.

I hope you've got them written down. There's a historian somewhere who would love to have them.
232 posted on 01/18/2004 4:20:36 AM PST by FreedomPoster (this space intentionally blank)
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To: TexKat
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040118/323/ejph4.html

Twenty five killed, some 130 wounded in Baghdad suicide bombing

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The death toll rose to 25 and the number of wounded to around 130 in a devastating suicide car bombing outside the front gate of the US headquarters in Baghdad, according to the US military and Iraqi hospitals.

"At least 20 people have lost their lives and almost 60 were injured," Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told reporters.


"It would appear from all the indicators this was a suicide bomb. We have confirmation some of those killed were US citizens, US contractors. We believe the current number is two. We are waiting for final confirmation," Kimmitt said.

The US military had previously identified the dead Americans as two US Defense Department employees.


The US-led coalition said its toll was not counting those people brought to local Iraqi hospitals.

Three dead and 30 wounded were brought to Karrama hospital, while another two people were reported dead at Baghdad's Yarmuk hospital, Iraqi doctors said.

(snip)



233 posted on 01/18/2004 4:21:47 AM PST by libtoken
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To: nerdwithamachinegun
Glad you are ok..
234 posted on 01/18/2004 4:25:15 AM PST by Dog (GO EAGLES!!!!!!)
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To: TexKat; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb exploded outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition Sunday, killing 18 Iraqis and two Americans, and wounding many other people, American and coalition officials said.

The blast, apparently caused by a suicide bomber, occurred at about 8 a.m. near the "Assassin's Gate" to Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s former Republican Palace complex, now used by the U.S.-led occupation authority for headquarters. The gate is used by hundreds of Iraqis employed by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the formal name of the U.S.-led occupation authorities, as well as U.S. military vehicles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The long thread, with links to updates.

May God comfort those who mourn, heal our wounded, strengthen and protect our troops and civilians serving, and defeat our enemies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



235 posted on 01/18/2004 4:32:44 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: risk
Japanese planes burning on southern airfield, Iwo Jima.

On the edges of the airfield their appears to be areas that are agricultural in nature. This is inconsistant with the soil on Iwo Jima which is mostly volcanic and barren in nature. This looks more like Okinawa than Iwo Jima.

236 posted on 01/18/2004 4:35:54 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Texkat and some of us were up and viewed the carnage.It was really a dreadful act of murder.Bless the injured and the mourning.
237 posted on 01/18/2004 4:36:46 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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An injured Iraqi man lies in the road near burning wreckage after a car bomb attack in Baghdad, January 18, 2004. At least 20 people died and another sixty were wounded in a car bomb attack outside the main coalition headquarters in Baghdad Sunday, a U.S. military spokeswoman said. Photo by Reuters Tv/Reuters

Iraqis look out from the bomb-shattered windows of their apartments as a U.S. soldier guards the area near the scene of a car bomb which exploded outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 . Reports say at least 18 people were killed. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

U.S. soldiers investigate the scene of a car bomb which exploded outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad Sunday, Jan 18, 2004. Reports say at least 18 people were killed. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

U.S. soldiers investigate the scene of a car bomb which exploded outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 . Reports say at least 18 people were killed. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

U.S. soldiers secure the scene of a car bomb which exploded outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 . Reports say at least 18 were killed. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

An injured Iraqi man is assisted on the ground after a car bomb attack in Baghdad, January 18, 2004. Sixteen Iraqi civilians and two employees of the U.S. Department of Defense were killed in a car bomb attack outside the main coalition headquarters in Baghdad on Sunday, a U.S. military spokeswoman said. REUTERS/Reuters television

An injured Iraqi man lies on the ground after a car bomb attack in Baghdad, January 18, 2004. Sixteen Iraqi civilians and two employees of the U.S. Department of Defense were killed in a car bomb attack outside the main coalition headquarters in Baghdad on Sunday, a U.S. military spokeswoman said. REUTERS/Reuters television

An Iraqi survivor lies crying on the curbside at the scene of a car bomb which exploded in Baghdad, Iraq outside the main gate to the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition Sunday, Jan 18, 2004. Eighteen people were killed, and dozens of others injured, U.S officials said. (AP Photo/David Guttefelder)

An injured Iraqi walks across Baghdad's al-Jumhuriya Bridge away from the site of a massive suicide truck bomb which blew up at the main gate to the US-led coalition headquarters.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

A casualty is carried to an ambulance after a car bomb attack in Baghdad, January 18, 2004. A huge car bomb exploded outside the main U.S. headquarters in Baghdad on Sunday morning, killing at least 17 people and wounding 25 as they waited to enter the base, officials said. REUTERS/Reuters television

238 posted on 01/18/2004 4:44:09 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: MEG33
On Fox and Friends it was stated that U.S. soldiers that were out on the grounds noticed that the driver (suicide bomber) of the white toyota laden with explosives was trying to cut in line of cars at the entrance gate and that the soldiers took cover behind the barriers.
239 posted on 01/18/2004 4:53:53 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat
Thank God.I wish the others could have been saved,too .The only good news out of this is that American soldiers are not killed.
240 posted on 01/18/2004 4:59:27 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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