2004 Irbil bombings
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Irbil bombings was a double suicide attack
on the offices of Kurd
ish political parties in Irbil, Iraq
, north of Baghdad
on February 2, 2004. The attackers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies as hundreds gathered to celebrate Eid Al-Adha in Irbil.
A former government minister
, the deputy governor
of Irbil province and the city's police chief were among those killed at offices of northern Iraq's main political groups, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
(PUK). The attacks occurred as party leaders were receiving hundreds of visitors to mark the start of Eid.
The Al-Hayat newspaper
speculated that the bombings may have been retribution for the Kurdish role in capturing Hassan Ghul
.
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
on the offices of Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
ish political parties in Irbil, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, north of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
on February 2, 2004. The attackers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies as hundreds gathered to celebrate Eid Al-Adha in Irbil.
A former government minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, the deputy governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Irbil province and the city's police chief were among those killed at offices of northern Iraq's main political groups, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is a Kurdish political party in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was founded on June 1, 1975, by coordinations between Jalal Talabani and Nawshirwan Mustafa...
(PUK). The attacks occurred as party leaders were receiving hundreds of visitors to mark the start of Eid.
The Al-Hayat newspaper
Al-Hayat newspaper
Al-Hayat is one of the leading daily pan-Arab newspapers, with a circulation estimated over 200,000. It is the newspaper of record for the Arab diaspora and the preferred venue for liberal intellectuals who wish to express themselves to a large public....
speculated that the bombings may have been retribution for the Kurdish role in capturing Hassan Ghul
Hassan Ghul
Allegedly an al-Qaeda agent, Hassan Ghul has also been identified as a member of Ansar al-Islam. His nationality has been reported as Yemeni, Pakistani or Egyptian....
.