Five Explosions Rock the Kurdish Capital

[Anthea]

ISIS program is – as its name tells – an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. So I guess that a free Kurdistan is not in their plans. And KRG, with its constitutional freedom of religions is a nightmare for Jihadists.

But I am not sure that Iran or Syria are not really behind that attack.

I do not believe that this sort of Jihadist exists in the Quran

We all see what they are doing in Syria - let us hope that Kurdistan manages to get rid of them before they do anymore damage

[Anthea]

BBC News

A series of bombings has rocked Irbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous province of Kurdistan, killing six members of the security services.



Irbil is in a stable part of Iraq and the region has not witnessed such attacks in the past six years.

A central government spokesman said the violence could be linked to fighting between jihadists and Kurd in Syria.

Meanwhile, at least 25 people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia Muslim mosque south of Baghdad.

The blast is reported to have brought down the roof of the mosque in Mussayab, and bodies are feared to be trapped in the debris.

The attack took place as a funeral was under way for a man killed by militants a day earlier, said Reuters news agency.

Sectarian violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008.

Both Sunni and Shia places of worship have been targeted in recent months.

'Bombers killed'

At least 36 people were reported wounded in Sunday's bombings in Irbil, which targeted the security forces HQ and the interior ministry.

Reports described a car bomber who rammed a checkpoint leading to a complex housing the interior ministry and a number of security agencies.

A short while later - as emergency services arrived - another bomber struck driving an explosive-rigged ambulance, and gunmen on foot also attacked.

TV images showed black smoke rising high above the city and emergency vehicles racing to the scene, which was sealed off by security services.

"We were inside the building when there was a huge explosion outside, and when we tried to go out to see what happened it was crowded, and there was shouting everywhere," said Farhan Samed Kamil, an asayesh member who lost two fingers in the attack.

"After a while there was a second explosion. That's all I remember," he told AFP news agency from hospital.

A statement reportedly published on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) website cited witnesses as saying five would-be suicide bombers had been killed before they were able to blow themselves up. Other official reports suggested four militants had been killed.

Nozad Hadi, the governor of Irbil province, told AFP news agency that the victims were members of the Kurdish "asayesh" security services.

'Revenge'

The region does not usually experience the violence common elsewhere in the country.

A spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was quoted as saying the attacks could be linked to fighting between jihadists and Kurds across the border in Syria.

That view was echoed by Iraqi security analyst Ali al-Haidari who told AFP news agency the attack was "al-Nusra Front's revenge against the Kurds inside Kurdistan".

The conflict in neighbouring Syria has caused thousands of Syrian Kurdish refugees to flee across the border into northern Iraq.

The blasts come a day after results were announced in the region's parliamentary elections.

The main opposition Gorran (Change) party moved into second place, ahead of President Jalal Talabani's party.

His Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had shared power in the previous government with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which won most votes in the latest election.

Link & Video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/24323463

[Aslan]

i blame the arabs .... ruining my city >:l

[Londoner]

This has nothing to do with WK or elections or anything else. As a rule of thumb, SK is a target for Islamist terrorists like the rest of Iraq but in SK they can not succeed the same way in the rest of Iraq because of SK competent security and the support they get from people of Kurdistan. The last time they hit SK was over 6 years ago. Since that time they tried many times but each time they were caught in time.

[Anthea]

This has nothing to do with WK or elections or anything else. As a rule of thumb, SK is a target for Islamist terrorists like the rest of Iraq but in SK they can not succeed the same way in the rest of Iraq because of SK competent security and the support they get from people of Kurdistan. The last time they hit SK was over 6 years ago. Since that time they tried many times but each time they were caught in time.

This is not the place to ask but I have had broadband problems and may have missed news - was your brother elected?

[kardox]

Really sad, the disgusting face of terror. What is more disgusting is Islamists and Gorran supporters seem happy about the attacks.

[Shirko]

ISIS program is – as its name tells – an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. So I guess that a free Kurdistan is not in their plans. And KRG, with its constitutional freedom of religions is a nightmare for Jihadists.

But I am not sure that Iran or Syria are not really behind that attack.

The Kurds have been a thorn in the side of the ISIS whom would love to control Kurdistan, but that is not their goal or capability. As they state in the videos, they are at war with some governments and primarily the Shia and Alwites, so the reason why they are attacking Kurds now is unclear. Kurds are mostly Sunnis, so their fight is not with them. But it seems that some major powers are pushing them into WK and now in SK too, I would say a major player in the region is fascilitaing these events, and it does not look like Iran or Syrian Governemnt or even the rebels, it looks like it is Turkey and maybe some Arabs, who knows.

[Londoner]

This has nothing to do with WK or elections or anything else. As a rule of thumb, SK is a target for Islamist terrorists like the rest of Iraq but in SK they can not succeed the same way in the rest of Iraq because of SK competent security and the support they get from people of Kurdistan. The last time they hit SK was over 6 years ago. Since that time they tried many times but each time they were caught in time.

This is not the place to ask but I have had broadband problems and may have missed news - was your brother elected?

Not yet clear. The vote for political parties have been declared but the vote for individual candidates of each party has not yet been declared.

Regards

[talsor]

You can not move a needle in Kurdistan without Asayish knowing about it . The security is not only Asayish , but people in general are playing a big rule in the security network of Kurdistan . NO ONE can bring this much explosives to kurdistan without inside help period .

[talsor]

Really sad, the disgusting face of terror. What is more disgusting is Islamists and Gorran supporters seem happy about the attacks.

Where did you hear that ? any source ?

Destabilizing the region has been part of Goran's plans for a long time , yet they got more votes than last election .The goes to tell you that as kurds we are doing a better job at harming ourselves than our enemies could ever dream about.

[Aslan]

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham also expressed sympathy with the families of the victims.

“Terrorist acts are carried out in Iraq in line with the continuation of divisive moves by the enemies of unity, integrity, and security of this country,” Afkham said.

She added that such bombings were meant to undermine Iraq’s national unity and would “spread insecurity to various parts” of the country.

Earlier in the day, six people were killed by a rare bombing attack on the headquarters of the security services in the autonomous region’s capital Arbil, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of Baghdad.

The attack, in which six militants were also killed, left at least 42 people injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which took place one day after the results of the region's parliamentary elections were announced.

"This shows that those who resent Kurdistan do not want it to be victorious," read a statement released by the region’s security forces following the attack. “These kinds of attacks will make us more determined to confront the terrorists,” it added.

Nikolay Mladenov, the United Nations' new envoy to Iraq, said he was shocked by the attack.

"For many years, the city of Arbil has benefited from peace and security and I urge the regional and national authorities to work together to ensure that calm and tranquility will continue to prevail,” Mladenov said.

Violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008.

[Aslan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luxoL32R7L0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1   

[Piling]

The curious point is that terrorists have targeted an Asayish building, as in 2007 (I was in Erbil and the huge explosion awaked me) an official building (security or police, i think) has been hit also. Not a bomb exploding randomly in a market as in Iraq, but a chosen target : Kurdish intelligence services. Sounds more like a political warning directly sent to KRG.

[Londoner]

It is a miracle only 6 people killed and 40 plus wounded.

Asaesh, security, claims only two vehicles and an individual terrorist involved in the attack but every other news claims 5 vehicles involved.

[kardox]

Really sad, the disgusting face of terror. What is more disgusting is Islamists and Gorran supporters seem happy about the attacks.

Where did you hear that ? any source ?

Destabilizing the region has been part of Goran's plans for a long time , yet they got more votes than last election .The goes to tell you that as kurds we are doing a better job at harming ourselves than our enemies could ever dream about.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater