Throughout January 2012, a series of bombing and shooting attacks took place in multiple locations in
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
, seemingly targeting
Shia Muslims
Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...
.
5 January attacks
On 5 January 2012, a numerous bombing attacks hit the capital of
Baghdad
Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
and the southern city of
Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah ( , ; , BGN: , ), also spelled Nassiriya or Nasiriya, is a city in Iraq, the capital of the Dhi Qar Governorate. It lies on the lower Euphrates, about south-southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. Its po ...
, appearing to target
Shia Muslims
Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...
. A
suicide bomb
A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, #Terminology , see below) is a deliberate Strike (attack) , attack in which the perpetrators suicide , knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are ...
er attacked a security checkpoint as huge crowds of pilgrims were making the journey from Nasiriyah to
Karbala
Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...
for a religious holiday. At least 44 people were killed and 81 more injured in the first significant attack in the city since
a blast targeted the Italian military headquarters in November 2003.
Meanwhile, in Baghdad, at least three bombs exploded in
Sadr City
Sadr City (), formerly known as Al-Thawra () and Saddam City (), is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built in 1959 by Prime Minister of Iraq, Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim, Abdul Karim Qassim and named Al-Rafidain Distric ...
next to a group of day laborers waiting to get hired. Interior Ministry officials confirmed at least 13 died in these attacks and 32 were injured. Several hours later, two
car bombs
A car bomb, bus bomb, van bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles.
Car bombs can be roug ...
in the
Kadhimiya
Kadhimiya (, ) or Kadhimayn () is a northern neighbourhood of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It is about from the city's center, on the west bank of the Tigris. 'Kadhimiya' is also the name of one of nine administrative districts in Baghdad. As th ...
district of Baghdad left 16 dead and 36 injured.
In addition to these attacks, two people were killed and six injured in a shooting and roadside bombing in the insurgent stronghold of
Mosul
Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...
.
[ The ]Islamic State of Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI; ') was a Salafi jihadist militant organization that fought the forces of the U.S.-led coalition during the Iraqi insurgency. The organization aimed to overthrow the Iraqi federal government and establish an ...
claimed responsibly for the attack a month afterwards on 6 February.
14 January attacks
On 14 January, a bomb exploded among crowds of Shia pilgrims at a security checkpoint
Civilian checkpoints or security checkpoints are distinguishable from border or frontier checkpoints in that they are erected and enforced within contiguous areas under military or paramilitary control. Civilian checkpoints have been employed w ...
in the city of Basra
Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...
, killing at least 53 and injuring more than 130 others. The pilgrims were passing through the checkpoint on their way to a major Shia mosque in the Az Zubayr
Az Zubayr () is a city in and the capital of Al-Zubayr District, part of the Basra Governorate of Iraq. The city is just south of Basra.
The name is also sometimes written Al Zubayr, Al Zubair, Az Zubair, Zubair, Zoubair, El Zubair, or Zobier.
...
district, about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Basra. There were conflicting reports about the cause of the explosion, with some saying that a suicide bomber
A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, see below) is a deliberate attack in which the perpetrators knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are a form of murder–suicide that is ofte ...
dressed as a police officer managed to reach the checkpoint after showing a fake ID card. Other reports blamed a powerful roadside bomb that had been planted close to the road. The attack occurred on the last of the 40 days of Arba'in, where hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims visit the city of Karbala and other holy sites. Security forces sealed off the main hospital after the attack, fearing further violence.
Following the attack, the Iraqi military "intensified" its security around the country. 30,000 Iraqi soldiers were deployed in Karbala to protect pilgrims. Officials believe at least 16 million pilgrims have passed through the city of Karbala in the past two weeks. Other attacks took place throughout Iraq that day. Roadside bombings in Mosul
Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...
, Baqubah
Baqubah (; BGN: Ba‘qūbah; also spelled Baquba and Baqouba) is the capital of Iraq's Diyala Governorate. The city is located some to the northeast of Baghdad, on the Diyala River. In 2003 it had an estimated population of some 280,000 people. ...
and Al-Karmah
Al-Karmah, also sometimes transliterated as Karma, Karmah, or Garma (Iraqi Arabic: الگرمة), is a city in central Iraq, 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Fallujah in the province of Al Anbar.
U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq
For mos ...
left one policeman dead and at least nine people injured. A car bombing targeting a police patrol in Tikrit
Tikrit ( ) is a city in Iraq, located northwest of Baghdad and southeast of Mosul on the Tigris River. It is the administrative center of the Saladin Governorate. In 2012, it had a population of approximately 160,000.
Originally created as a f ...
killed a bystander and injured two officers.
Ali Ghanim, the chief of the security committee in Basra, said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. He said, "There was a man who was holding a box and giving food to people, and one of our security officers found him suspicious and went to search the box and the man blew himself up". So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
27 January attack
At least 32 people were killed and 71 wounded in a bombing in Baghdad on 27 January. A suicide bomber targeting Shias detonated his vehicle at a funeral tent in Zaafaraniyah district in the south of Baghdad. The procession was being held for a local real estate broker who had been murdered by unidentified gunmen the previous day.
See also
* List of terrorist incidents, January–June 2012
This is a list of terrorist incidents which took place in 2012, including attacks by violent non-state actors for political motives. Note that terrorism related to drug wars and cartel violence is not included in these lists. Ongoing military con ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iraq attacks, 2012-01
Bombings in the Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)
2012 murders in Iraq
ISIL terrorist incidents in Iraq
Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2012
Mass murder in 2012
Islamic terrorist incidents in 2012
Spree shootings in Iraq
Suicide car and truck bombings in Iraq
January 2012 in Iraq
January 2012 crimes in Asia
2012 in Baghdad
Terrorist incidents in Baghdad in the 2010s
21st-century mass murder in Baghdad
Suicide car and truck bombings in Baghdad
History of Nasiriyah
Terrorist incidents in Karbala
2010s in Karbala
Terrorist incidents in Sadr City
Improvised explosive device bombings in Mosul
21st century in Mosul
21st century in Basra
Motorcycle bombings in Iraq
Car and truck bombings in 2012
Suicide bombings in 2012
Terrorist incidents in Basra