Iskandariya suicide bombing explained
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd after a local football game in the village of al-Asriya, near Iskandariya in the Babil Governorate, in a mixed Sunni-Shiite area on 25 March 2016.[2] The bombing killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 105.[1] [3] [4] The Mayor Ahmed Shaker was among those killed in the explosion; he succumbed to his wounds in a hospital.[5] [6] [7] [8] The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for attack, claiming those targeted were members of the Popular Mobilization Forces.[9]
The bombing occurred as trophies were being presented after a football tournament. According to eyewitnesses, the bomber went through the crowd to approach the centre and blew himself up during the mayor's presentation of the awards. Many of the victims were young boys; according to an Iraqi official, at least 17 boys between the ages of 10 and 16 were killed.
Reactions
- Three days of mourning were declared in the Babil Governorate following the attack.
- : Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was visiting Iraq at the time, condemned the attack.
- FIFA: Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, said "it is a very sad day, when people, going to a match together, become the victims of such violence."
- Asian Football Confederation: AFC condemned the bombing by issuing a statement that said "Using football and sport stadiums as a stage for these heinous acts of violence is a cowardly, completely unjust and indiscriminate act."
Notes and References
- Web site: Toll From IS Suicide Bombing at Iraq Stadium Climbs to 41. 26 March 2016. AP. The New York Times. 2 March 2017. 8 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160408155931/http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/26/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iraq.html. live.
- Web site: Iraq buries young victims of football pitch bomb carnage. Yahoo News. AFP. 26 March 2016. 30 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330015715/http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-kills-25-south-baghdad-police-172305466.html. live.
- Web site: Suicide attack kills dozens at football stadium in Iraq. Al Jazeera. 26 March 2016. 25 March 2016. 5 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405052210/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/suicide-attack-kills-dozens-football-stadium-iraq-160325181900028.html. live.
- News: Iraq violence: 'IS suicide attack' kills 29 in football match. 25 March 2016. BBC News. 21 June 2018. 14 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180314184523/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35901358. live.
- News: Suicide bomber kills 30 south of Baghdad: police. 25 March 2016. Agence France Presse. Yahoo News. 25 March 2016. 30 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330015715/http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-kills-25-south-baghdad-police-172305466.html. live.
- Web site: Suicide bomber kills 26, wounds 71 south of Baghdad - official. 25 March 2016. Reuters. 2 July 2017. 18 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018055545/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-violence-idUSKCN0WR1CC. live.
- Web site: ISIS Suicide Bomber in Iraq Kills Dozens at Soccer Game. 26 March 2016. The New York Times. 2 March 2017. 20 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820163516/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/world/middleeast/iraq-isis-bombing.html. live.
- Web site: Suicide bomber kills dozens at football stadium in Iraq. Al Jazeera. 2016-03-26. 2019-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405052210/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/suicide-attack-kills-dozens-football-stadium-iraq-160325181900028.html. live.
- Web site: Suicide blast kills 29 at Iraq football stadium; ISIS claims responsibility. 25 March 2016. Fox News. 25 March 2016. 25 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325205148/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/03/25/suicide-blast-kills-29-at-iraq-football-stadium-isis-claims-responsibility.html. live.
