One of the largest Sunni mosques in Baghdad, Iraq on Sunday has killed at least 28 people. A suicide bomber was disguised as a beggar and was let inside the Umm al-Qura mosque about 9:30 pm because it appeared that he was injured. According to Ahmed al-Samarai, the mosque’s imam, “We thought that this man really deserved to be helped.”
This attack, as well as the recent increase in suicide bombings all over Iraq has many questioning the security situation. Many feel that the United States’ withdrawal of their troops in the country will lead to unrest and decreased security.
The man generated suspicion and the security guards at the mosque threw him out; however, he managed to get back inside. He detonated the bomb will standing among a large group of people. The imam said, “What hurts me is seeing a 3-year-old boy who came with his father to pray…And then after the explosion, I saw his head separated from his body.” The father died, as well.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, it is quite similar with al-Qaeda strikes in Mesopotamia. Earlier this month, al-Qaeda said that it had started a 100-attack campaign in order to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden.
There was a Member of Parliament killed in the attack, as well. Khalid al-Fahdawi became a Member of Parliament last year and had already survived one assassination attempt. Fahdawi was considered an Islamic moderate and was very critical of al-Qaeda. He called for peace and said that “democracy doesn’t go against Islam.”
The mosque was built in 2001. Saddam Hussein named it the Mother of all battles Mosque, referencing it to what he thought was the victory of Iraq over the United States. It was given to Sunni clerics in 2003 after Hussein’s rule ended.
