Alive in Baghdad - Moments After the Firdos Square Bombings

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Here is the brief update. There is confusion over the number of casualties. The number reported by the US Military is nearly the same number we received from an Iraqi Police (IP) officer who was involved in firing on the second vehicle, which exploded near the Mosque in Firdos Square. He claimed there were approximately 4 killed and 16 wounded at that time.

The assertion that the attack was intended to take over the Palestine Hotel was not substantiated by any of the IPs or PSDs (private security) who we spoke with that were on the scene. He believed this attack to be similar to previous attacks, where the first bomb is intended to bring IPs and other security forces, and subsequent bombings are used to inflict mass casualties on the response teams.

Despite the loud gunfire long after the attack, no gunmen other than the IPs were reported to be in the streets. One BBC colleague reported to me that, "The Iraqi Police tend to be quite trigger-happy." Also, my fixer overheard an IP shouting "Be careful they are shooting everyone." We now believe "they" almost certainly means other IPs, although we don't have a first-hand report of IPs firing on each other.

There is still some confusion over the carbombings. We received an eyewitness report from a PSD that the first car was a Black Jeep Cherokee, it now appears this may have been the second vehicle, as the AP reports the first car was a white vehicle.

[editor's note: This video is scenes from the aftermath a few blocks away from the bombing, the chaotic scenes on the street, etc. filmed on 10/24/05]

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Firdos
• Bombing
• AliveinBaghdad

[pescadoygamba]

Looks like the OIL programs not working out as expected??

[hayderwaleed]

this is karrada city where i was live lol i miss

[coolzero87]

Why did they turn on the public sirens? This is the first time I hear it after the 2003 in Iraq!!!

[jethromayham]

I joined up just in time. I was able to blow a hole in the golden dome after Hussein was already executed.

Three of us each came up with our own co-ordinates. compared and then sent a gift by mortar tube.

We naturally ran away and read about it several days later on Stars & Stripes and a VOA broadcast.

Cheers!

[theboneman1977]

only faggots and sailors are called lawrence

[byk48a]

This is Baghdad or other city of Jordan, because it seems like Amman, the truth i do not know !

[pumpuki]

Wien ist ein nett platz....so Huebsch ;D

-Kal- von Dubai =]

[pumpuki]

so what Americans are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan is considered Immigration of the US Citizens ? ... mmm...!

[bimini9]

Basic. 101 college type response. Itis very very diffiult to explain war and escalation. Oil is one part of it. A lot more to it. It makes you feel good to say oil. Most of the oil in the world now comes from other than middle east countries.

[dargay]

the kaffir has invaded Muslim nations. Big difference.

[smokeinup]

huh?