2016 Karrada bombing

2016 bombing in Karrada, Iraq July 2016 July 2016 Karrada bombing the War in Iraq (2013–2017) and the Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State انفجار_الكرادة_(مجمع_هادي_سنتر_و_مجمع_الليث_التجاري).jpg Aftermath of the bombing, with first responders extinguishing fires Karrada, Baghdad, Iraq Western-style shopping centre in a multicultural & multi-faith district of Baghdad. 2016 07 03 yes 00:05 AST UTC+03 Truck bombing, suicide bombing 347Baghdad blast killed 292, many burned alive https://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-baghdad-blast-rises-292-minister-140018485.html 7 July 2016 AFP 7 July 2016 19 April 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190419172759/https://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-baghdad-blast-rises-292-minister-140018485.html liveBaghdad bombing: Casualties in Karrada rise to 347 https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-casualties-in-karrada-rise-to-347 Iraqi News 3 July 2016 31 July 2021 31 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210731014907/https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-casualties-in-karrada-rise-to-347/ live 250+ Islamic State Loss of Fallujah On 3 July 2016, Islamic State (IS) militants carried out coordinated bomb attacks in Baghdad that killed up to 1,000 civilians and injured hundreds more.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl67iRu80GM&t=1054s أحداث الخضراء واعتقال (مصلح) والسلاح المنفلت وتأمين الانتخابات .. بلقاء خاص مع وزير الدفاع 29 May 2021 YouTube 24 March 2025 ar A few minutes after midnight local time (2 July, 21:00 UTC), a suicide truck-bomb targeted the mainly Shia district of Karrada, busy with late night shoppers for Ramadan. A second roadside bomb was detonated in the suburb of Sha'ab, killing at least five. IS issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, naming the suicide bomber as Abu Maha al-Iraqi. There were reports that the source of the blast was a refrigerator van packed with explosives. The explosion caused a huge fire on the main street. Several buildings, including the popular Hadi Center, were badly damaged. On 18 October 2021, Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced that Ghazwan al-Zawbaee, the man behind the bombing was arrested by Iraqi security forces.بعد أكثر من 5 سنوات.. الكاظمي يعلن اعتقال المسؤول عن تفجير الكرادة الدامي https://baghdadtoday.news/news/168611/b 2022-01-12 baghdadtoday.news ar 18 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018173216/https://baghdadtoday.news/news/168611/b liveIraq captures mastermind of 2016 Islamic State terror attack that killed hundreds - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/iraq-captures-mastermind-2016-islamic-state-terror-attack-killed-hundreds 2022-01-12 www.al-monitor.com 19 October 2021 en 7 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211207180421/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/10/iraq-captures-mastermind-2016-islamic-state-terror-attack-killed-hundreds live Background The 17 May 2016 Baghdad bombings, which killed over 101 people, were perpetrated by IS. Some security analysts saw the bombings in Iraq's capital as an effort to distract the attention of the Iraqi security forces from the then-ongoing battle in Fallujah.Salaheddin Sinan http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f1c1cbb0a62e4074abd08912bb12770b/suicide-car-bombing-kills-least-8-people-baghdad Iraqi forces push into Fallujah as IS bombings kill 24 Bigstory.ap.org 30 May 2016 4 July 2016 3 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160703190441/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f1c1cbb0a62e4074abd08912bb12770b/suicide-car-bombing-kills-least-8-people-baghdad dead The 2016 Battle of Fallujah came to a close on 29 June with the Iraqi government recapturing the city from IS.https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/IS-claims-deadly-Baghdad-shopping-street-bombing/article60529287.ece It came a week after Iraqi security forces recaptured Fallujah from IS, leaving Mosul as the only Iraqi city under the jihadist group's control. 119 dead as car bomb rips through Baghdad shoppers AFP 4 July 2016 The Hindu 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704132145/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/is-claims-deadly-baghdad-shopping-street-bombing/article8803797.ece live The Baghdad bombings were the third mass killing of civilians by IS militants in that past week, following the 28 June attack in Istanbul, Turkey, and the 1 July attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Hassan Falih Arango Tim Bombing Kills More Than 120 in Baghdad 3 July 2016 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/04/world/middleeast/baghdad-bombings.html?_r=0 The New York Times 1 March 2017 31 December 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181231042938/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/04/world/middleeast/baghdad-bombings.html?_r=0 live ISIL had sent out calls for increased attacks during the month long celebration of Ramadan.http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/22/world/isis-more-attacks-ramadan/index.html ISIS: More attacks on West during Ramadan McKirdy Euan CNN 5 July 2016 29 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160629215926/http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/22/world/isis-more-attacks-ramadan/index.html live Attack and response The suicide truck bomb hit a shopping area in the upper class Shia-majority district of Karrada, where many people were on the street during the evening shopping and breaking their Ramadan fast with iftar at local cafes. The bomb was concealed inside a refrigerator truck driven by a suicide bomber. It was the first major attack in Baghdad since the Iraqi government's recapture of the city of Fallujah just four days prior. A Western security source in Baghdad told the BBC the bomb used "a new tactic which helped it to move undetected through checkpoints ... We've never seen it before, and it's very worrying." The bombers reportedly used a "unique" mix of chemicals for the bomb. "We are used to big fires but the chemicals in this bomb were used for the first time in Iraq," according to Brigadier General Kadhim Bashir Saleh of the Iraqi Civil Defense Force.Doucet Lyse Iraq violence: Did IS use new type of bomb for deadliest attack? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36910935 28 July 2016 BBC News 28 July 2016 30 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160730041107/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36910935 live The initial death toll directly due to the bombing had been "limited", but the fire caused by the bombing trapped people in shopping centres, which lacked any emergency exits. The bombing killed at least 324 people and injured at least 223.https://www.timesofisrael.com/death-toll-from-islamic-state-attack-in-baghdad-rises-to-292/ Death toll from Islamic State attack in Baghdad rises to 292 Times of Israel 7 July 2016 17 July 2016 11 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160711085055/https://www.timesofisrael.com/death-toll-from-islamic-state-attack-in-baghdad-rises-to-292/ livehttps://www.yahoo.com/news/more-200-dead-claimed-baghdad-blast-officials-072248788.html Fury over insecurity as Iraqis mourn 200 dead in Baghdad blast Yahoo! News 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 5 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160705163824/https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-200-dead-claimed-baghdad-blast-officials-072248788.html deadISIS car bomb kills more than 100 in Baghdad https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/isis-car-bomb-kills-more-than-100-in-baghdad/ CTV News 4 July 2016 2 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704171429/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/isis-car-bomb-kills-more-than-100-in-baghdad-1.2970767 livehttp://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/07/04/baghdad-suicide-bomb-attack-death-toll-rises-to-165-225-injured_c1380263 Baghdad suicide bomb attack death toll rises to 165, 225 injured The Star 4 July 2016 6 July 2016 5 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160705132537/http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/07/04/baghdad-suicide-bomb-attack-death-toll-rises-to-165-225-injured_c1380263 live Unconfirmed reports state that the car bombs may have passed checkpoints where Iraqi security forces still use fake bomb detectors such as the ADE 651.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 Nearly 120 killed in overnight Baghdad bombings claimed by Islamic State 3 July 2016 Reuters 2 July 2017 1 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190501235726/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 livehttps://theintercept.com/2015/11/23/this-fake-bomb-detector-is-blamed-for-hundreds-of-deaths-its-still-in-use/ This Fake Bomb Detector Is Blamed for Hundreds of Deaths. It's Still in Use. Hussain Murtaza 23 November 2015 The Intercept 7 August 2016 1 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190501235734/https://theintercept.com/2015/11/23/this-fake-bomb-detector-is-blamed-for-hundreds-of-deaths-its-still-in-use/ livehttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-toll-idUSKCN10B0VK?il=0 Death toll in Baghdad bombing rises to 324: ministry Reuters 31 July 2016 2 August 2016 4 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160804020839/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-toll-idUSKCN10B0VK?il=0 live In the aftermath of the attack, Baghdad Operations Command claimed it had arrested members of a militant cell who were connected to the bombing. On 28 August 2023, the government of Iraq announced that three members of IS had been executed by hanging for the terrorist attack. Among those reportedly executed was the supposed mastermind of the attack, Ghazwan al-Zawbaee.Three hanged for Iraq bombing that killed more than 300 people https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66643208 28 August 2023 BBC News 28 August 2023 Other attacks A second roadside explosion occurred in the neighborhood of Sha'ab in northern Baghdad around midnight, killing at least five people and injuring 16.Iraq violence: IS bombing kills 125 Ramadan shoppers in Baghdad 3 July 2016 BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36696568 21 June 2018 18 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180918162149/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36696568 live A third bombing targeted members of al-Hashd al-Shaabi, killing one person and injuring five as well as damaging a vehicle. The bomb was an IED that detonated in Abu Ghraib District in Baghdad. A vehicle was also damaged.Loaa Adel http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/bomb-explosion-in-western-baghdad-one-al-hashd-al-shaabi-member-killed/ Bomb explosion in western Baghdad, one al-Hashd al-Shaabi member killed Iraqi News 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704132606/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/bomb-explosion-in-western-baghdad-one-al-hashd-al-shaabi-member-killed/ live A fourth bombing in al-Latifiya in southern Baghdad killed one person. The bomb was placed under a civilian vehicle, and went off when the vehicle was being driven.Sarhan Amre http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/car-bomb-blast-kills-civilian-al-latifiya-southern-baghdad/ Car bomb blast kills civilian in al-Latifiya in southern Baghdad Iraqi News 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704132147/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/car-bomb-blast-kills-civilian-al-latifiya-southern-baghdad/ live Casualties The Iraqi Ministry of Defence first stated that at least 167 had been killed and over 180 injured.http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-casualties-in-karrada-rise-to-347/ Baghdad bombing: Casualties in Karrada rise to 347 – Iraqi News Loaa Adel 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704132027/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-casualties-in-karrada-rise-to-347/ live Reports from the scene indicated that many of those killed were children.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/03/baghdad-bombings-dozens-killed Isis claims responsibility for Baghdad car bombing as 120 die on single day Martin Chulov 3 July 2016 The Guardian 3 July 2016 11 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160711120445/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/03/baghdad-bombings-dozens-killed live After initial reports, the death toll continued to rise as further corpses were recovered from the rubble and injured victims died of their injuries. Later, in 2021, in an interview with Iraqi News Channel Al-Mirbad, Juma Inad, Minister of Defence at the time of this bombing, claimed the true death toll to be 1,000.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl67iRu80GM&t=1054s أحداث الخضراء واعتقال (مصلح) والسلاح المنفلت وتأمين الانتخابات .. بلقاء خاص مع وزير الدفاع 29 May 2021 YouTube 24 March 2025 ar He also discredited claims that "only 200/250 were killed".https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl67iRu80GM&t=1054s أحداث الخضراء واعتقال (مصلح) والسلاح المنفلت وتأمين الانتخابات .. بلقاء خاص مع وزير الدفاع 29 May 2021 YouTube 24 March 2025 ar Abdel Ghani Saadon, the general manager of Rusafa Health Directorate, issued a statement noting that the "hospitals of al-Kandi, al-Sadr and Sheikh Zayed received 138 wounded and 70 dead bodies of al-Karrada bombing".Adel Loaa Baghdad bombing: Scores of people dead, dozens injured 3 July 2016 Iraqi News http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-scores-of-people-dead-dozens-injured/ 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704132704/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-scores-of-people-dead-dozens-injured/ live He noted that fifty bodies were burned beyond recognition, and that samples from them had been sent for DNA testing to determine their identities. Responsibility The Islamic State issued a statement claiming that it was responsible for the attack and that it had deliberately targeted Shia Muslims, further identifying the suicide bomber as Abu Maha al-Iraqi.Baghdad bombing: ISIS claims responsibility; suicide bomber's identity revealed 3 July 2016 http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-isis-claims-responsibility-suicide-bombers-identity-revealed Iraqi News 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704135247/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-isis-claims-responsibility-suicide-bombers-identity-revealed/ live Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad, stated that the attack was an IS attempt to "compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja".Nearly 120 killed in overnight Baghdad bombings claimed by Islamic State 3 July 2016 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 Reuters 2 July 2017 1 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190501235726/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 live Reactions Domestic Political The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited the scene of the attack on the following day, and was met by angry crowds shouting "thief" and "dog". They were angry about what they perceived as the government's false promises regarding tightened security. One local shop owner was quoted as stating "Thank God I managed to hit Abadi with stones to take revenge for the kids". Abadi stated that he will punish the perpetrators of the bombings.http://international.sindonews.com/read/1121785/43/bom-baghdad-tewaskan-120-orang-irak-umumkan-berkabung-nasional-1467614071 Bom Baghdad Tewaskan 120 Orang, Irak Umumkan Berkabung Nasional 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160704112227/http://international.sindonews.com/read/1121785/43/bom-baghdad-tewaskan-120-orang-irak-umumkan-berkabung-nasional-1467614071 live He also announced a public mourning that will last three days.http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-abadi-announces-three-day-mourning-for-karrada-victims/ Baghdad bombing: Abadi announces three-day mourning for Karrada victims - Iraqi News Amre Sarhan 3 July 2016 4 July 2016 7 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160707155000/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/baghdad-bombing-abadi-announces-three-day-mourning-for-karrada-victims/ live After reporting in their most recent death toll, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence issued a statement admitting they were overwhelmed, with not enough resources, military checkpoints, and intelligence services to properly manage the security of Baghdad. On 5 July, Interior Minister Mohammed Al-Ghabban resigned his post.August 2021 The Interior ministry is responsible for police but not other forces providing security in Baghdad.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/iraqi-minister-submits-resignation-baghdad-bombing-160705132556099.html Iraqi minister submits resignation over Baghdad bombing - News from Al Jazeera 2016-07-06 5 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160705152546/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/iraqi-minister-submits-resignation-baghdad-bombing-160705132556099.html live In his resignation statement, al-Ghabban said that the security system was "fundamentally flawed" and called for changes to increase the ministry's power. Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Shimmari, the head of Baghdad Operations Command, along with the Interior Ministry head of intelligence in Baghdad and the official responsible for Baghdad in the national security adviser's office were removed from their posts by al-Abadi. Five convicts were executed and 40 suspected jihadists were arrested following the attack.Iraq PM sacks Baghdad security chiefs after deadly blast http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/sites/almonitor/contents/afp/2016/07/iraq-bombing-baghdad-security.html al-Monitor 8 July 2016 22 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160822034541/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/sites/almonitor/contents/afp/2016/07/iraq-bombing-baghdad-security.html live According to the Rudaw Media Network, the bombing was "politically disastrous" for the Iraqi government, which had presented the recapture of Fallujah as a step that would make Baghdad less vulnerable to such attacks, as Abadi said that the attacks originated in Fallujah. Seeing that Baghdad was still vulnerable to such attacks, the population of the city could, according to Rudaw, be less supportive of diverting manpower to liberating Mosul.Iddon Paul Will Baghdad's deadliest bombing affect plans to liberate Mosul? http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/070720165 Rudaw 8 July 2016 8 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160708135733/http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/070720165 live Religious Iraq's leading Sunni religious organisation, the Association of Muslim Scholars, called the bombing a "bloody crime, regardless of who carried it out or what their motivations were". A representative of Iraq's top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Ahmed al-Safi, paid a visit to the site of the bombings. Christians also held commemorations.August 2021 Other On social media, some Iraqis expressed anger at the ADE 651 fake bomb detector, which Abadi announced would be withdrawn from checkpoints.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-iraq-bombings-20160703-story.html More than 120 killed in Islamic State's worst bomb attack in the Iraqi capital Chicago Tribune 4 July 2016 4 July 2016 6 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160706125519/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-iraq-bombings-20160703-story.html live Reuters has also reported that Iraqis are calling for increased crackdowns on so-called sleeper cells.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 Iraqis want crackdown on 'sleeper cells' after huge Baghdad bomb 5 July 2016 Reuters 5 July 2016 1 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190501235726/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-blast-idUSKCN0ZJ017 live Thousand of Iraqis gathered at the site of the bombing on 6 July to mourn the victims and express solidarity with their families.Thousands gather to mourn victims of Baghdad blast http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/afp/2016/07/iraq-conflict-bombing-mourning.html al-Monitor 8 July 2016 7 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160707160004/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/afp/2016/07/iraq-conflict-bombing-mourning.html live International Abdul Kareem Khalaf, an advisor to the European Centre for Counter-terrorism and Intelligence Studies think tank, recommended that Abadi "have a meeting with the heads of national security, intelligence, the interior ministry and all sides responsible for security and ask them just one question: How can we infiltrate these groups?" On 6 July, New Zealand's Sky Tower in Auckland was lit up in the red, white, and black colors of the Iraqi flag to honour the victims of the attack. This initiative came at the urging of an Iraqi-New Zealander named Rania Alani who had called on the Sky Tower management to honour the victims of all attacks equally. Alani pointed out that Sky Tower had lit up in the colours of the French and American flags to honour the victims of attacks like the November 2015 Paris attacks and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. In addition, the Auckland Iraqi community held a candlelit vigil at the Mission Bay fountain in a show of solidarity with the Baghdad bombing victims.Satherley Dan Sky Tower to honour Iraqi dead http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/sky-tower-to-honour-iraqi-dead-2016070613#axzz4DcXjOOpt 6 July 2016 Newshub 6 July 2016 7 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160707143557/http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/sky-tower-to-honour-iraqi-dead-2016070613#axzz4DcXjOOpt deadBarrat Nicola Sky Tower lights up in honour of Baghdad bomb victims http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11669655 6 July 2016 The New Zealand Herald 6 July 2016 8 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160708114652/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11669655 live See also List of Islamist terrorist attacks List of terrorist incidents, July–December 2016 Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2016 Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum attack References 30em External links 33 17 47 N 44 25 13 E title Category:Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State Category:2016 murders in Iraq Category:21st-century mass murders in Baghdad Category:2016 in Baghdad Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in Baghdad Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2016 Category:July 2016 crimes in Asia Category:2016 mass murders Category:July 2016 in Iraq Karrada 2016 Category:Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2016 Category:Violence against Shia Muslims in Iraq Category:Baghdad during the War in Iraq (2013–2017) Category:Suicide car and truck bombings in Baghdad Category:Suicide bombings in 2016 Category:Car and truck bombings in 2016 Category:Marketplace attacks in Baghdad Category:Shopping mall bombings in Asia Category:2016 building bombings Category:Building bombings in Baghdad Category:Controversies in Iraq Category:Arson in Iraq Category:Arson in 2016 Category:2016 fires in Asia Category:Engineering failures Category:Restaurant bombings in Iraq Category:Commercial building fires in Asia Category:Terrorist incidents involving incendiary devices Category:Industrial fires and explosions in Iraq Category:Residential building bombings in Iraq Category:Attacks on coffeehouses and cafés in Iraq Category:Building and structure arson attacks in Asia