RAMADI – Twin bombings targeting Iraqi government offices in Ramadi Monday killed seven people and wounded dozens, in a first test for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki since he assumed the security portfolio.
Police said a car bomb exploded near the provincial headquarters in the heart of Ramadi city, 100 kilometres west of Baghdad, followed 15 minutes later by a suicide bombing which witnesses said occurred amid ambulances and rescue workers attending to victims of the first blast.
Among the dead were four police while at least 51 people were wounded, including women and children, officials said.
The attacks marked the third time this year that the headquarters of the Anbar provincial government have been attacked and came a day after a new police chief for the province in western Iraq took up his post. They also mark the first major attack since Maliki was confirmed for a second term in office last Tuesday and his new government, in which he retains Iraq’s three security portfolios, won approval in parliament.
“A car bomb exploded near the Anbar provincial government offices around 9:30am (0630 GMT) followed about 15 minutes later by a suicide bombing,” said a police spokesman, Major Rahim Zabin.
“Seven people were killed, including four police, and 51 were injured, among them women and children.”
An official of the local morgue said they had received seven bodies while the provincial hospital confirmed the injury figures. According to police, the two attacks took place at Al-Ziut, a major intersection used by police and government officials on their way to and from their nearby offices.
“I was close to the car when it exploded among a big crowd, including women and children,” said witness Abdel Hakim al-Dulaimi, 50. “Some victims were literally sent flying through the air.”
An AFP reporter said at least 20 cars were destroyed in the blasts, while surrounding buildings and shops were damaged. “I was at home enjoying my breakfast when the first explosion occurred, rattling my windows,” said Majid Shahut, 34, who lives near the targeted intersection.
“I ran outside and I saw many vehicles on fire, and women, police and children lying on the ground. As the rescue teams arrived, a man dressed as a policeman blew himself up among the ambulances and the victims.
