By Patrick Cockburn
The Independent, 07 December 2005
Two suicide bombers with explosives strapped to their bodies blew themselves up inside Baghdad's police academy, killing at least 43 people and wounding 73.
"We were sitting in the yard when we heard an explosion," said a police major, Wisam al-Heyali. "Seconds later, we were hit by another explosion. I saw some of my colleagues falling down and I felt my hand hit, but I kept running."
The devastating losses among the police students - the worst casualties for the Iraqi security forces from a single incident for nine months - were because of a trap set by the two bombers, according to the US military.
"One of the suicide bombers detonated near a group of students outside a classroom," said a US spokesman. "Thinking the explosion was an indirect-fire attack, Iraqi police and students fled to a bunker for shelter when the second bomber detonated his vest."
Many other students were outside their classrooms going to lunch after returning from shooting practice, said Nizal Mahmoud Khalaf, a trainee who survived the attacks.
The attack was later claimed by al-Qa'ida in Iraq which has little connection with the original al-Qa'ida of Osama bin Laden. The internet statement said: "Two brothers targeted the police academy that continues to train dogs which feed off the blood and honour of Sunni Muslims."
The casualties were the worst for the Iraqi security forces since a suicide bomber killed 125 recruits in Hillah, south of Baghdad, on 28 February.
Suicide attacks have decreased recently but show more sophisticated planning, often involving two or three bombers. In attacks on the Palestine and al-Hamra hotels, both used by foreign journalists and businessmen, the bombers tried to use a first vehicle, packed with explosives, to breach concrete defensive walls and a second to try to use the gap to blow up the building. Bombers seldom attack US forces but concentrate on Iraqi army, police or civilian targets, almost always Shia or Kurdish.
The main weapon used against US troops is the landmine, detonated by a command wire, a remote control or pressure plate. Use of these mines is also becoming more sophisticated.
The US Marines gave their first full account yesterday of how 10 Marines were killed and 11 wounded in a landmine attack on 1 December. Contrary to earlier reports, the men from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment were not on foot patrol. Instead they were inside a mill near Fallujah which they were using as a temporary patrol base.
"The platoon swept the area for explosives and established security around the factory," the statement said. Their commander arrived to promote three Marines and the men gathered for the ceremony. The mine exploded as they were dispersing.
"It is suspected that one of the Marines triggered a hidden pressure-plate initiation device, causing the explosion," the statement said.
There has been a sharp increase in the number of kidnappings of foreigners in the past two weeks. Al-Jazeera television broadcast a video yesterday from an insurgent group called the Islamic Army of Iraq showing a blond, Western-looking man with his hands tied behind his back. It said he was an American security consultant and displayed his US passport and identity card.
In recent days four peace activists, a French engineer and a German aid worker have been abducted. Almost all kidnappings in Iraq are for money even when they claim a political motive, but the rash of abductions could be connected to the general election on 15 December.
Two suicide bombers with explosives strapped to their bodies blew themselves up inside Baghdad's police academy, killing at least 43 people and wounding 73.
"We were sitting in the yard when we heard an explosion," said a police major, Wisam al-Heyali. "Seconds later, we were hit by another explosion. I saw some of my colleagues falling down and I felt my hand hit, but I kept running."
The devastating losses among the police students - the worst casualties for the Iraqi security forces from a single incident for nine months - were because of a trap set by the two bombers, according to the US military.
"One of the suicide bombers detonated near a group of students outside a classroom," said a US spokesman. "Thinking the explosion was an indirect-fire attack, Iraqi police and students fled to a bunker for shelter when the second bomber detonated his vest."
Many other students were outside their classrooms going to lunch after returning from shooting practice, said Nizal Mahmoud Khalaf, a trainee who survived the attacks.
The attack was later claimed by al-Qa'ida in Iraq which has little connection with the original al-Qa'ida of Osama bin Laden. The internet statement said: "Two brothers targeted the police academy that continues to train dogs which feed off the blood and honour of Sunni Muslims."
The casualties were the worst for the Iraqi security forces since a suicide bomber killed 125 recruits in Hillah, south of Baghdad, on 28 February.
Suicide attacks have decreased recently but show more sophisticated planning, often involving two or three bombers. In attacks on the Palestine and al-Hamra hotels, both used by foreign journalists and businessmen, the bombers tried to use a first vehicle, packed with explosives, to breach concrete defensive walls and a second to try to use the gap to blow up the building. Bombers seldom attack US forces but concentrate on Iraqi army, police or civilian targets, almost always Shia or Kurdish.
The main weapon used against US troops is the landmine, detonated by a command wire, a remote control or pressure plate. Use of these mines is also becoming more sophisticated.
The US Marines gave their first full account yesterday of how 10 Marines were killed and 11 wounded in a landmine attack on 1 December. Contrary to earlier reports, the men from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment were not on foot patrol. Instead they were inside a mill near Fallujah which they were using as a temporary patrol base.
"The platoon swept the area for explosives and established security around the factory," the statement said. Their commander arrived to promote three Marines and the men gathered for the ceremony. The mine exploded as they were dispersing.
"It is suspected that one of the Marines triggered a hidden pressure-plate initiation device, causing the explosion," the statement said.
There has been a sharp increase in the number of kidnappings of foreigners in the past two weeks. Al-Jazeera television broadcast a video yesterday from an insurgent group called the Islamic Army of Iraq showing a blond, Western-looking man with his hands tied behind his back. It said he was an American security consultant and displayed his US passport and identity card.
In recent days four peace activists, a French engineer and a German aid worker have been abducted. Almost all kidnappings in Iraq are for money even when they claim a political motive, but the rash of abductions could be connected to the general election on 15 December.
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Citation: By Patrick Cockburn. "Suicide bombers kill 43 at Iraqi police academy,"
The Independent, 07 December 2005.
Original URL: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article331606.ece
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