Suicide Bomb Attack Hits Baghdad Army Recruiting Center, 60 Dead and 125 Injured

This had to be a HUGE blast at an Iraqi army recruiting center in Baghdad as 60 Iraqis were killed and 125 were injured as upwards of 1000 new recruits waited in line. The report from Breitbart doesn't specifiy it but I'm guessing that this was a vehicle laden with explosives that was set off. (Photo is file photo)

From the article:

At least 60 people were killed and 125 injured in a suicide bomb attack on Iraqi army recruits in Baghdad on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

The massive blast occurred at around 7:30 a.m. when as many as 1,000 recruits were lined up outside an army division headquarters, located in an open area next to Maidan Square in the heart of Baghdad, AP reported from the Iraqi capital.

At least three soldiers were among the dead and eight among the wounded, the report said, citing police.

The really disturbing aspect here is that this happened in Baghdad but at the same time, one has to wonder about the Iraqi's security situation here - to have 1000 Iraqis applying for a job in the army at one time should have sent up dozens of red flags. Al Qaeda in Iraq's two favorite targets are army recruiting centers and police headquarters so if this was a vehicle borne suicide bomb, then some Iraqis really screwed up.

LEAD: 60 killed, 125 hurt in suicide bomb attack on Iraqi army recruits: AP+


At least 60 people were killed and 125 injured in a suicide bomb attack on Iraqi army recruits in Baghdad on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

The massive blast occurred at around 7:30 a.m. when as many as 1,000 recruits were lined up outside an army division headquarters, located in an open area next to Maidan Square in the heart of Baghdad, AP reported from the Iraqi capital.

At least three soldiers were among the dead and eight among the wounded, the report said, citing police.

The attack comes as Iraqi security forces try to bolster their ranks to prepare for the U.S. military's looming withdrawal after seven years of war.

All but 50,000 U.S. troops will go home by the end of August, with the rest to follow by the end of 2011 under a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington.