Swedish newspaper: At least 22 dead in Iraq explosion

[cliss]

Source: Aftonbladet, Swedish daily newspaper (online version)
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,578618,00.html
Date: Dec. 21, 2004
Translated by: Cliss

"Explosion in Iraq, at least 22 dead"

Iraq was shaken on Tuesday by a new attack. At least 22 people are reported to have died and 50 were injured when grenades were launched at an American military base in Mosul. At the same time, England's prime minister was in the Green Zone in Baghdad, which has been subject to several suicide bombings.

Witnesses say that they heard 2 or 3 detonations at the base. Shortly thereafter there was smoke coming from the base. The explosion happened at the US's largest base in the area, Camp Merez, and it happened exactly 12:00 local time. The American military was extremely quiet and refused to give out any details about the event.

The military group Ansar-Al-Sunna is allegedly taking responsibility in a message on the Internet. The group is one of the bigger groups in the rebellion against the US-supported Interim government and the American forces in the country.

"Grenades landed in the lunch room"

According to US media, several grenades landed in the lunch room at the military base, where there were many American troops at that time. TV reports from Washington about many dead was refuted by a spokesman in Mosul, Reuters reports.


"Details are still coming in and we don't have a final casualty figure or solid reason for the attack" he said.

CNN, however, is reporting that the number of dead is large. At least 22 people have been killed from the attack, according to information from the Pentagon. About 50 people have also been injured.

More updates in a little while.
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The only comment I have here is: what exactly do they mean by 'grenades'. They don't say if it was hand grenades, or grenades that were launched by some other means. If all this was caused by 3 pineapple grenades, then we're in serious trouble.
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[movonne]

1. What are pineapple grenades???

[lindashaw]

2. I don't get it. NYT says this was the 30th time this messhall has

been struck. And it's only a tent. I would think that someone would have found a safer place...where so many GIs are at one time. At least a metal roof.

[Moderator]

3. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=102