Mass murder in Iraq
The 20 June 2009 Taza bombing was an attack which took place in Taza near Kirkuk, Iraq on 20 June 2009 in a dominant Shia Turkmen community. At least 73 people[2][3][4] were killed and over 200 more were injured.[1] Thirty homes were destroyed in the bombing.[1]
The bombing was the worst attack in Iraq since March 2008,[5] even worse than the twin 23 April 2009 Iraqi suicide attacks in Baghdad and Muqdadiyah.[6]
Incident
The attack took place in a residential area near a mosque, as a result destroying several homes and slightly damaging the mosque.[7] Mud-brick homes in the vicinity of the explosion collapsed,[7] with the explosion leaving a deep crater at the point of detonation.[7]
Following midday prayers, people were exiting the crowded Al-Rasoul mosque in Taza town when the explosion occurred.[7] Those who were affected were removed to Azadi Hospital in Kirkuk, with children being placed in wards.[7] Thirty-five-year-old Hussain Nashaat was wrapped in bandages when he spoke to reporters: "I was sitting in my house when suddenly a powerful blast shook the ground under me. I found myself covered in blood and ran outside in a daze. My lovely neighborhood was just rubble."[5] People were buried alive.[6]
Shortly after the bombing, the Kurdistan Regional Government, under orders from the Iraqi ministry of defence, started a 15-day operation "to follow terrorists and criminals in Kirkuk Province surroundings".[8] 13 days later a high-ranking officer reported that "during a joint raid by Iraqi military forces alongside US troops in Haweja town, Mahdi Salih a terrorist was arrested who was the Kirkuk two blasts mastermind on 20 June"[9]
In December, Adnan Jassim Ali al-Hamdani, Walid Mahmoud Mohammed al-Hamdani and Hawas Falah al-Juburi were convicted and sentenced to death for helping to plan the attack.[10]
Perpetrators
Perpetrators are not identified. Western media, like Reuters, hinted at “…Sunni Islamist insurgents, including al Qaeda…”.[5]
