Incidents of Mass Casualty Terrorism Part III

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston

5 January 2006--Over a period of an hour, bombings occurred in three Iraqi cities. About 10:00 AM a bomber wearing a vest loaded with about 9 kg of explosives, several grenades, and ball bearings blew himself up between two shrines in Karbala. The bombing took place about 30 meters from one shire in an area frequented by pedestrians and street vendors. At least 63 were killed and 143 injured; 5 Iranian pilgrims were among those killed. Also about 10:00 AM a roadside bombing killed 5 U.S. soldiers in Baghdad. At 10:55 AM in Ramadi a bomber blew himself up in a group of 1,000 applicants for employment with the police. About 56 were killed and 60 injured.  Fatalities: 124.

11 July 2006--Multiple bombs exploded during evening rush hour on commuter trains in and near Mumbai, India. Eight explosions occurred on trains over a period of 11 minutes beginning at 6:24 PM, spread 30 km through the western suburbs of Mumbai. The first explosion caused limited injuries on a train near the Khar railway station in Mumbai at 6:24. Other explosions near downtown Mumbai occurred at 6:24 at Bandra station, 6:26 at Mahim, and 6:30 at Matunga. Further up the western rail line one explosion occurred at Jogeshwari at 6:25, one at Mira Road at 6:29, and two at Borivali at 6:35. The explosions, all in first class cars, used RDX and pencil-sized timers and were powerful enough to significantly damage the train cars, each carrying up to 500 passengers during rush hour. At Jogeshwai, the explosion occurred just as the train left the station, injuring bystanders on the train platform as well; at the Matunga station, the explosion damaged the train platform roof. The train system was quickly shut down by authorities and phone services were disrupted, but both trains and phones were resuming operations about four hours later. Recovery efforts were complicated by rains about an hour after the bombings. Reports on 12 July indicate 200 killed and 714 injured. A few hours before the bombings, 8 tourists were killed and 39 tourists and others injured in grenade attacks by Islamic terrorists in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, but there is no current indication of a link between the attacks.  Fatalities: 200.

16 October 2006--A terrorist drove a truck loaded with explosives into a military convoy near Habarana, Sri Lanka. About 340 navy personnel on leave were at the site in a convoy of 24 buses when a suicide bomber drove a truck into the convoy and detonated an explosive charge. Of 103 killed, 98 died at the site, 4 died en route to hospitals, and 1 had died in a hospital in Anuradhapura through 16 Oct.; another 150 were injured. Some casualties, as many as few dozen, are believed to be civilians, including tea vendors, who were present at the site.  Fatalities: 103.

23 November 2006--Multiple bombings took place in Sadr City, a Shia sector of Baghdad, Iraq. At least three car bombs exploded over a period of minutes, one at a busy square, one at a food market, and one near a bus stop. At least 202 were killed and about 250 injured. A short time later, a dozen mortars struck the Sunni Adhamiya district, injuring 10.  Fatalities: 202.

22 January 2007--Multiple bombings took place in and near Baghdad, Iraq. Shortly after 12:00 a car bomb explode in the Haraj clothes market in Baghdad, followed seconds later by a car bomb driven into the crowd by a suicide bomber; 88 were killed and 160 injured. About 17:00 in a market in Baquba, a bomb hidden in a vegetable cart exploded and was followed by a mortar attack; 12 were killed and 26 injured. Another mortar attack in Baghdad killed one. Fatalities: 101.

3 February 2007--A massive truck bomb was detonated in a Baghdad Shia market place. The fuel truck used carried about one ton of explosives and was detonated in the Sadriyah market around dusk, when the market was crowded with shoppers before curfew. Eyewitness accounts claim the truck was detonated by a suicide bomber; official accounts claim the truck was parked and remotely detonated. The market was an open-air market in a narrow street between buildings; consequently, the blast was partially funnelled along the street. Two buildings were destroyed and another ten buildings collapsed. As of 4 February casualties numbered 137 killed and at least 334 injured, with some of those injured not expected to survive.  Fatalities: 137.

6 March 2007--Two suicide bombers attacked pilgrims in Hilla, and 12 other attacks were made against Shi'ite pilgrims. The two bombings killed 105, and 32 were killed in the other attacks; a total of 310 were injured.  Fatalities: 137.

27 March 2007--Two truck bombs exploded in Tal Afar, killing 152 and injuring 347.  Fatalities: 152.

18 April 2007--Multiple bombings occurred in Baghdad, Iraq. About 4:00 PM a car bomb was left and detonated at the same Shia market place struck in February; it was detonated at the Sadriya market entrance, outside new concrete barriers, just as construction workers rebuilding the market were leaving for the day. Many were killed in vehicles that were set on fire outside the market. As of 19 April casualties were reported as 140 killed and 150 injured, including many women and children. Three other bombings occurred that afternoon: a suicide car bombing at about 3:00 PM at a Sadr City checkpoint killed 35 and injured at least 27; a car bomb at a private Karrada hospital killed 11 and injured 12; and a minibus bomb killed 2 and injured 8 in Al-Shurja. A bomb exploded on a minibus in Rusafa, killing 2 and injuring 5. A suicide car bomber struck a police patrol in Uaireej, south of Baghdad, killing 2 police officers and the bomber and injuring 2 officers and 2 civilians. Total casualties are at least 193 killed and 197 injured.  Fatalities: 193.

3-10 July 2007--Militants seized the Red Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 3 July. Army troops surrounded the mosque on 4 July, and from 4-10 July about 1100 hostages and some militants left the mosque, including about 437 women and children on 4 July and 28 women on 10 July. Troops assaulted the compound on 10 July. Total fatalities included 91 militants (including 1 woman), 10 soldiers, and 1 police officer.  Fatalities: 102.

7 July 2007--Multiple bombings killed about 182 and injured 200. The first suicide bombing north of Baghdad killed over 20; the second, in a market in Armili at 9:30 AM, killed more than 140 with 20 more missing (including 25 children and 40 women) and injured 270.  Fatalities: 182.

14 August 2007--Multiple truck bombings in Al-Qataniyah and Al-Adnaniyah, Iraq, killed and injured hundreds. Four truck bombs reportedly carrying 2 tons of explosives were set off within minutes of each other in the two small villages, targeting members of the Yazidi sect in northern Iraq. Early reports said the trucks were gas tankers, but later reports indicated they were garbage trucks driven into the two villages and announced to be carrying food rations; after crowds gathered around the trucks, they were detonated. Hundreds of clay houses were destroyed, burying many victims. Both villages were largely destroyed, with 1,000 houses destroyed and 500 damaged. On 17 August the Sinjar governor reported that 344 were known dead, with 400 injured and 70 others missing. Subsequent estimates of the number of fatalities ranged from 360 to 500. On 21 August the Iraqi Red Crescent Society reported that between 500 and 525 were killed and 1,500 injured, of which perhaps 300 were injured seriously. Of 300 patients transported to Sinjar, all had been taken home by relatives by 21 August, most fearing for their safety; 15 remained hospitalized at Tal Afar.  Fatalities: 520.

18 October 2007--Bombings occurred in a crowd greeting the former prime minister of Pakistan in Karachi, Pakistan. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a target of Islamic militants, was in a motorcade moving slowly through crowds from an airport to the center of Karachi. As the convoy approached a bridge, the streetlights were out. A terrorist threw a grenade near the convoy; after the grenade exploded, he attempted to approach Bhutto's vehicle before detonating 15-20 kg of explosives. This larger explosion occurred a few meters from Bhutto's vehicle, setting a police escort van on fire, and breaking windows in Bhutto's truck. Bhutto was reportedly uninjured, but 50 of her security guards were killed. Two police vehicles were destroyed. Casualties, which included some children, were being treated at six hospitals, with 139 killed (plus the terrorist) and 540 injured as of 20 October. Fatalities: 137.

17 February 2008--A suicide bombing at a dogfighting festival in Kandahar, Afghanistan, kills over 100. A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a group of about 500 men gathered in a field about 15 km west of the center of Kandahar city. The attack killed police commander Abdul Hakim Jan (who may have been targeted by the bomber) along with 10-50 other police officers. Total reported deaths were 105-125, of whom perhaps 80 died immediately with about 20 dying of injuries by the following day; at least 65 more were injured.  Fatalities: 105.

26-29 November 2008--Armed terrorists conducted multiple attacks on sites in Mumbai, India, before taking hostages at three locations in a two-day seige. At least 10 terrorists took over a fishing boat, killing at least one on the boat, and used the boat to approach Mumbai. The terrorists came ashore in two small boats, reaching Cuffe Parade about 20:30 and dispersing in groups of 2-4 to attack several locations in downtown Mumbai. About 21:30 two terrorists attacked Cafe Leopold with automatic weapons, killing or injuring at least 13. Two other gunmen attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station with automatic weapons and grenades, killing at least 41 including 3 police officers. These two then attacked the Cama Hospital, killing at least 2 hospital guards and one police officer in the hospital, then surprising and killing several police officers in an SUV between the Cama Hospital and adjacent Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital, including H. Karkare, head of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorist Squad. They took the SUV and fled about 21:45, engaging in random shooting and trading vehicles before encountering a police roadblock near Chowpatty Beach where they killed one officer and injured another before police killed one terrorist and captured the other. About 21:30 another pair of terrorists attacked the Nariman House including the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch outreach center, killing one and taking others hostage; they also tossed a grenade at a nearby gas station and shot several people in the area attracted to the commotion. Five hostages at the Chabad center were later killed. A taxi exploded north of downtown at Vile Parle; it was not immediately clear if the taxi driver had been aware of the bomb.

About 21:45 two gunmen entered the Oberoi-Trident hotel, killing several staff and guests and taking others captive. At the same time four gunmen attacked the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. At both hotels gun battles between terrorists and police developed over the next few hours, with the terrorists roaming the hotels and killing or taking more hostages; hundreds of guests and staff were trapped in the hotels hiding or taken captive. Multiple explosions occurred at both hotels and fires broke out at the Taj Mahal Palace, set by the terrorists. At 07:30 on 28 November Indian commandoes entered the Nariman House, gaining control of the site about 18:00 but finding 8 hostages dead. Indian authorities reported taking full control of the Oberoi hotel at 11:00 on 28 November and the Taj Mahal Palace at 07:30 on 29 November. Fatalities at the two hotels were at least 32 and 51, respectively. On 3 December explosives left by the terrorists at the Chhatrapati Shivaji terminal were found and defused. Indian authorities have blamed the attack on Pakistani terrorists. A total of 174 were reported killed, including 14 Indian police, 6 Indian soldiers, 22 foreigners, 123 Indian civilians, and 9 terrorists. Foreigners included 6 Americans, 3 Germans, 3 Israelis, 2 Canadians, 2 French, and one citizen each of Australia, China, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom (total of 22 foreigners may represent some of the preceding with dual citizenship). One terrorist was captured. Some early figures based on reports from hospitals cited 900 injured; subsequently Indian authorities reported 295-370 or 327 injured, including 23 foreigners and at least 12 Indian police officers.  Fatalities: 174.

19 August 2009--Multiple bombs explode near government buildings in Baghdad, Iraq. Vehicle bombs were detonated at the Foreign Ministry building and the Finance Ministry building, killing 65 and 28 people, respectively. A bombing at the Health Ministry killed 8. Over 500 people were injured altogether. The attacks were claimed on 24 August by the Islamic State of Iraq group.  Fatalities: 102.

25 October 2009--Bombs were detonated in two vehicles near government buildings in Baghdad, Iraq. About 10:30 AM a vehicle (either a van, a bus, or a stolen water department pickup truck) was driven alongside the Justice Ministry building and 1000 kg of explosives in the vehicle were detonated, virtually destroying the ministry building as well as the building of the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works across the street. One minute later and 400 meters away, a vehicle (either a van or a bus) carrying 700 kg of explosives blew up next to the Baghdad Provincial Council building, destroying that building. As of late 26 Oct. casualties were reported at 160 killed and 540 injured, with an unknown number missing. At least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council were killed. Casualties at the Justice Ministry building include many children from two day care centers associated with the Justice Ministry. Official reports are that 20 children were killed, most of them in a minivan just leaving the center. Other children were killed in the playground of one day care center. Those injured included at least 3 American civilians. By 26 October authorities had arrested 76 people in connection with the bombings. Fatalities: 155.

28 October 2009--A car bombing at a marketplace in Peshawar, Pakistan, killed 118 people. The bomb used 150 kg of explosives and was remotely detonated shortly after 1300 at the Meena Bazaar marketplace used by women. Several buildings in the crowded marketplace collapsed and others were set on fire. Many of those killed were women shoppers; at least 68 men, 32 women, and 13 children were killed, including 7 children from a single family. Casualties also occurred in an adjacent mosque. At least 213 were injured. Fatalities: 118.

8 December 2009--Five car bombs were detonated between 10:00 AM and 10:50 AM in Baghdad, Iraq. The first bomb exploded near police in Dora; other bombs exploded in Shourja Market near the Iraqi health ministry, at a bank where the finance ministry had been meeting since the 25 Oct. bombing, at Mustanseri University, and at the Institute of Fine Arts. Casualties included at least 127 killed and between 448 and 500 injured.  Fatalities: 127.

10 May 2010--Multiple bombings took place in several cities in Iraq, including Hilla, Basra, al-Suwayra, killing 102 and injuring 350. About 0500 six Baghdad checkpoints were attacked by gunmen, killing at least 7 Iraqi soldiers and policemen, and bombs exploded at three other checkpoints, killing 2 policemen; another 24 were injured in the nine attacks. A bombing in Hilla killed two policemen in a patrol. About 1330 two suicide bombers drove car bombs into a Hilla textile factory, and another bomb exploded as rescue workers arrived; at least 50 were killed and 190 injured there, although the third bomb killed only 2. In al-Suwayra, 13 were killed and 40 injured by two suicide bombers in a marketplace near a mosque. Around 1800 a car bomb exploded in the central market of Basra, followed by two more car bombs in a residential area in the north part of Basra, killing a total of at least 21 and injuring over 70. Additional gun and bomb attacks occurred in Fallujah, Mosul, Iskandariyah, and Tarmiyah. Fatalities: 102.

20 Jan 2012--At least 25 bombings and armed attacks occurred in Kano, Nigeria, killing at least 178. The attacks were attributed to Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group in Nigeria. At about 1700, several terrorists on motorcycles threw a bomb at the Farm centre immigration office and engaged officers in a gun battle, killing three officers. Soon thereafter a suicide car bombing at the Zone 1 police headquarters caused significant damage, including destruction of several residences. Additional bombings occurred at the State Security Service office, the State Police Command office, four police stations (Fegge, Farm Centre, Naibawa, and Jedijedi stations), the Customs Training School, and a motor park. At the State Security Service office and Customs Training School, officers engaged the terrorists in gun battles. Gun battles reportedly continued into the night as authorities imposed a curfew in the city. Boko Haram members were being detained at many of the attacked sites, and the terrorists freed at least 50 to 100 group members during the attacks. As of 22 January the official death toll was 178, but a doctor at one hospital indicated the toll would liking reach 250. At least 50 were injured. Casualties included one Indian citizen killed and at least 4 foreigners injured.  Fatalities: 178.

10 Jan 2013--Multiple bombings occurred in several cities in Pakistan. A suicide bombing at a billiards hall in Quetta was followed minutes later by a car bombing nearby, killing 81 immediately with 5 more dying overnight of injuries; at least 100 more were injured. At another location in Quetta a bomb detonated in a market area near a vehicle transporting paramilitary soldiers, killing 12 and injuring more than 40. A bombing at a mosque in Mingora killed 22 and injured more than 80. Fatalities: 120. 

Source: [Upon Request]