Throughout January 2012, a series of bombing and shooting attacks took place in multiple locations in Iraq, seemingly targeting Shia Muslims.

5 January attacks

On 5 January 2012, a numerous bombing attacks hit the capital of Baghdad and the southern city of

Nasiriyah Nasiriyah ( ar, ٱلنَّاصِرِيَّة; United States Board on Geographic Names, BGN: ''An Nāşirīyah''; also spelled ''Nassiriya'' or ''Nasiriya'') is a city in Iraq. It is on the lower Euphrates River, Euphrates, about south-southeas ...

, appearing to target Shia Muslims. A

suicide bomb A suicide attack is any violent attack, usually entailing the attacker detonating an explosive, where the attacker has accepted their own death as a direct result of the attacking method used. Suicide attacks have occurred throughout histor ...

er attacked a security checkpoint as huge crowds of pilgrims were making the journey from Nasiriyah to

Karbala Karbala or Kerbala ( ar, كَرْبَلَاء, Karbalāʾ , , also ;) is a city in central Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorat ...

for a religious holiday. At least 44 people were killed and 81 more injured in the first significant attack in the city since a blast targeted the Italian military headquarters in November 2003. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, at least three bombs exploded in Sadr City next to a group of day laborers waiting to get hired. Interior Ministry officials confirmed at least 13 died in these attacks and 32 were injured. Several hours later, two car bombs in the

Kadhimiya Kadhimiya ( ar, ٱلْكَاظِمِيَّة, al-Kāẓimiyyah, ) or Kadhimayn (, ) is a northern neighbourhood of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It is about from the city's center, on the west bank of the Tigris. 'Kadhimiya' is also the name of on ...

district of Baghdad left 16 dead and 36 injured. In addition to these attacks, two people were killed and six injured in a shooting and roadside bombing in the insurgent stronghold of Mosul. The Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibly for the attack a month afterwards on 6 February.

14 January attacks

On 14 January, a bomb exploded among crowds of Shia pilgrims at a security checkpoint in the city of Basra, killing at least 53 and injuring more than 130 others. The pilgrims were passing through the checkpoint on their way to a major Shia mosque in the

Az Zubayr Az Zubayr ( ar, الزبير) is a city in and the capital of Al-Zubair District, part of the Basra Governorate of Iraq. The city is just south of Basra. The name can also refer to the old Emirate of Zubair. The name is also sometimes written Al ...

district, about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Basra. There were conflicting reports about the cause of the explosion, with some saying that a suicide bomber dressed as a police officer managed to reach the checkpoint after showing a fake ID card. Other reports blamed a powerful roadside bomb that had been planted close to the road. The attack occurred on the last of the 40 days of Arba'in, where hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims visit the city of Karbala and other holy sites. Security forces sealed off the main hospital after the attack, fearing further violence. Following the attack, the Iraqi military "intensified" its security around the country. 30,000 Iraqi soldiers were deployed in Karbala to protect pilgrims. Officials believe at least 16 million pilgrims have passed through the city of Karbala in the past two weeks. Other attacks took place throughout Iraq that day. Roadside bombings in Mosul, Baqubah and

Al-Karmah Al-Karmah, also sometimes transliterated as Karma, Karmah, or Garma ( Iraqi Arabic: الگرمة), is a city in central Iraq, 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Fallujah in the province of Al Anbar. U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq For mo ...

left one policeman dead and at least nine people injured. A car bombing targeting a police patrol in Tikrit killed a bystander and injured two officers. Ali Ghanim, the chief of the security committee in Basra, said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. He said, "There was a man who was holding a box and giving food to people, and one of our security officers found him suspicious and went to search the box and the man blew himself up". So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

27 January attack

At least 32 people were killed and 71 wounded in a bombing in Baghdad on 27 January. A suicide bomber targeting Shias detonated his vehicle at a funeral tent in Zaafaraniyah district in the south of Baghdad. The procession was being held for a local real estate broker who had been murdered by unidentified gunmen the previous day.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iraq attacks, 2012-01 Bombings in the Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) 2012 murders in Iraq ISIL terrorist incidents in Iraq Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2012 Mass murder in 2012 Islamic terrorist incidents in 2012 Spree shootings in Iraq Suicide car and truck bombings in Iraq January 2012 events in Iraq January 2012 crimes in Asia 2012 in Baghdad Terrorist incidents in Baghdad in the 2010s 21st-century mass murder in Baghdad Suicide car and truck bombings in Baghdad History of Nasiriyah Terrorist incidents in Karbala 2010s in Karbala Terrorist incidents in Sadr City Improvised explosive device bombings in Mosul 21st century in Mosul 21st century in Basra Motorcycle bombings in Iraq Car and truck bombings in 2012 Suicide bombings in 2012 Terrorist incidents in Basra

5 January attacks

14 January attacks

27 January attack

See also

References