2004 Erbil bombings

2004 Erbil bombing
Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006) in Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
Memorial of 2004 Erbil bombing in Sami Abdulrahman Park
Location	Erbil, Kurdistan Region
Date	February 1, 2004
Target	Headquarters of PUK and KDP
Attack type	Suicide bombings
Deaths	117
Injured	133
Perpetrators	Unknown

The 2004 Erbil bombings was a double suicide attack on the offices of Iraqi Kurdish political parties in Erbil, Kurdistan Region on 1 February 2004. The attackers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies as hundreds gathered to celebrate Eid Al-Adha in Erbil.^[1]

A former government minister, the deputy governor of Erbil Governorate and the city's police chief were among those killed at the offices of the Kurdistan Region'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 allegedly speculated that the bombings may have been retribution for the capture of bin Laden's courier Hassan Ghul in The Kurdistan Region.^[2]

"We have no group that's claimed responsibility," Coalition Provisional Authority spokesman Dan Senor said, saying al Qaeda or Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq group with suspected al Qaeda ties, could be responsible. "It could be any number of groups attempting to operate inside Iraq," he added.^[3]

See also

• 2005 Erbil bombing
• 2013 Erbil bombings
• 2021 Erbil missile attacks

References

1. Gettleman, Jeffrey; Wong, Edward (February 1, 2004). "Twin Bombings in Northern Iraq Kill at Least 56". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
2. Cole, Juan (2004-02-03). "Were Irbil Bombings Revenge For Capture". Informed Comment. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
3. "CNN.com - Death toll climbs in Iraq suicide blasts - Feb. 2, 2004". edition.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.

External links

• Al-Nahr, Naseer (February 2, 2004). "Twin Bombings Kill 56 in Irbil". Arabnews.com. Retrieved May 11, 2015.