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| 2003 Karbala bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part ofIraqi insurgency (2003–2006) inIraqi insurgency (2003–2011) | |
| Location | Karbala,Iraq |
| Date | December 27, 2003 |
| Target | Coalition military barracks |
Attack type | Suicide Bombings |
| Deaths | 14 soldiers, 5 civilians |
| Injured | 200+ injured (including 36 coalition soldiers) |
| Perpetrators | Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad |
| Motive | Occupation of Iraq |
The2003 Karbala bombings consisted of foursuicide attacks on theCoalition militarybarracks inKarbala,Iraq, 110 kilometres (68 mi) south ofBaghdad on December 27, 2003.
The attackers targeted two coalition bases and adowntownIraqi police station where U.S.military police were stationed. All of the attacks occurred within a 20-minute span.
Bulgarian guards at the perimeter of their forward base at theUniversity of Karbala shot thesuicide bomber as the gasoline tanker bore down on the front entrance. Nevertheless, the bomb exploded about 50 feet (15 m) from the base's main building, killing four Bulgarian soldiers and wounding 27 others, one of whom died from his injuries on the next day.[1] The soldiers killed were Major Georgi Kachorin, Lieutenant Nikolai Saruev and Officer Candidates Ivan Indjov, Anton Petrov and Svilen Kirov.[2] TheBulgarian Armychief of staff, Nikola Kolev, said they expected attacks because Karbala had been suspiciously peaceful.[attribution needed]
In the attack on theThai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq camp the bomber killed twoThai soldiers and wounded five others when he rammed his vehicle into the walls. The Thais were confident enough about their security that they planned to send 200 Thai civilians to visit their troops.
In the double attack on the police station, seven Iraqi police officers and fivecivilians were killed. Five American soldiers were among the wounded.[3]
After the bombings, UN Security Council PresidentStefan Tafrov condemned the attacks.[4] In Bulgaria, questions were raised by the country's participation in Iraq and the salaries soldiers received for their international service in a warzone.[5] Bulgaria would continue to support their allies efforts in Iraq until 2008, at a loss of 13 soldiers.[6]
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