Kurdish community shocked by Erbil terror attack

Shivan

By Shivan Fazil Kurdi:

Six people were killed and more than 60 others injured in Erbil yesterday after suicide bombers tried to storm the main security headquarters.

“A minibus driven by a suicide bomber tried to storm the security office in Erbil, but he was fired upon and killed by the guards, and as a result the vehicle exploded,” said an official statement.

Immediately following the explosion, four suicide bombers armed with weapons and hand grenades attacked and tried to enter the security headquarters, but they were killed by the guards. The attacks began at 1.24 p.m. Minutes after the first attack, a second suicide bomber arrived at the headquarters, driving an ambulance packed with explosives.

President Barzani visits victims in hospital

President Barzani visits victims in hospital

The Kurdistan Region has been the safest part of Iraq, escaping much of the violence that has raged in the rest of the country since the fall of the Saddam regime in 2003. “Our forces have undoubtedly foiled many such plans in the past six years,” said an Erbil security office spokesperson.

Yesterday’s attacks are first since 2007 when terrorist groups blasted the KRG’s interior ministry, a walking distance away from Erbil security head office.

These attacks came as the Kurdistan Region was celebrating a successful parliamentary election. Moreover, the city has recently hosted the 9th International Trade Fair in which hundreds of international companies participated. The UK Prime Minister’s Business Envoy Lord Marland led the biggest British companies’ delegation. Companies from other EU countries such as Germany, Portugal, Austria and Italy had a strong presence in the fair too.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, claim they are responsible. However, it is unknown for sure who is behind this terrorism which has shocked the Kurdish community in the region and worldwide.

Shivan Fazil Kurdi: MSc. Advanced Computer Networks, University of Derby, UK and BSc. Information Technology, University of Kurdistan-Hawler, Kurdistan. He is author of the book, ‘Cloud Computing Security’; he is a university lecturer and a freelance writer.   

3 Responses to Kurdish community shocked by Erbil terror attack
  1. Kuvan Bamarny
    September 30, 2013 | 13:29

    Iam assuming that the security headquarters of Hawler (Asayesh) has tons of surveillance cameras installedall from the gate of the building to all around the buliding.How come none of these cameras captured any videos of the attackers or even a single snapshot of the terrorists while trying to attack the building ?

  2. Suleiyman
    October 1, 2013 | 02:02

    It’s still too early to stipulate and they might have some evidence which they would rightfully withhold until some leads are made. So far the Asayesh have done enough over the years to gain our trust. Moving forwards is a different field to prove.

  3. […] is the first fatal suicide attack on Erbil since September 2013. Although no one has claimed responsbility, it is believed that ISIS are behind today’s […]

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