2010 Baqubah bombings
The 3 March 2010 Baqubah bombings were a series of three bombings in Baqubah, Iraq, on 3 March 2010 that killed at least 33 people and injured 55 others. Baqubah, a mixed Sunni and Shia town, is the capital of Diyala Governorate, approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of the country's capital, Baghdad.
| 3 March 2010 Baqubah bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) | |
| Location | Baqubah, Iraq |
| Date | 3 March 2010 9:30 – (UTC+3) |
Attack type | Car bombs/Suicide bombs |
| Deaths | 33 |
| Injured | 55 |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
| Motive | Disruption of 2010 Iraqi parliamentary election |
The bombings occurred in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7 March 2010. At 9:45 am local time, a car bomb was detonated near a police station in the western part of the city. A few moments later, approximately 100 yards (91 m) away, another car bomb was detonated near the provincial building. A suicide bomber later detonated a bomb at the hospital where some of the wounded were being treated. The hospital bomber posed as a police lieutenant and rode an ambulance to the hospital. A fourth bomb was found near the hospital and defused.
After the bombings, a full curfew was imposed on the city of Baqubah, barring even pedestrians. Among the dead were ten policemen, and Dr. Ali al-Timimi, head of Diyala Governorate's health department.
No organization has claimed responsibility for carrying out the bombings. The Islamic State of Iraq organization had previously promised to disrupt the elections on 7 March. Authorities, both American and Iraqi, have reportedly warned that more attacks could occur before, and even after the elections. Despite the concerns, early voting began, as scheduled, the morning of 4 March.