Bombings Strike Soccer Fans in Baghdad (50 dead, 100+ wounded)

[babylonsister]

Bombings Strike Soccer Fans in Baghdad


KIM GAMEL | July 25, 2007 02:24 PM EST | AP


BAGHDAD — Two suicide car bombings struck soccer fans in Baghdad as they were celebrating Iraq's victory in the Asian Cup semifinal on Wednesday, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 100, officials said.

The victims were among the thousands of revelers who took to the streets of the capital after the country's national soccer team beat South Korea to reach the tournament's final against Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The first attack took place about 6:30 p.m. when a bomber exploded in a crowd of people cheering near a well-known ice cream parlor in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Mansour, according to police and hospital officials. At least 30 people were killed and 75 were wounded, an Interior Ministry official said.

Another suicide car bomber detonated his payload about 45 minutes later in the midst of dozens of vehicles filled with revelers near an Iraqi army checkpoint in the eastern district of Ghadeer, killing at least 20 people, including two soldiers, and wounding 61, according to the ministry official.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070725/iraq-soccer/

[TwilightGardener]

1. Why on God's earth would Baghdad host an international soccer tournament?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Probably Cheney or Rove's idea to show how "normal" and "safe" Baghdad really is.

[dkofos]

3. Maybe you should read the article. They played in Malaysia.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Ohhhhhhh. OK. Makes sense now.

[VWolf]

5. They now play Saudi Arabia in the final

The winner of that match (on Sunday) gets a berth in the Confederations Cup 2009, which is an 8-team tournament to be played in South Africa. Guess who else has already qualified ... the USofA. That means we'll either meet the country we invaded after 9/11, or we'll meet the country we SHOULD have invaded after 9/11. Go figure.

[applegrove]

6. Somehow that brings the horror into focus..because it was during a time

of celebration. As opposed to every other day of the week.