Terrorists ‘use Down’s syndrome suicide bombers’ to kill 70 in Iraq

REMOTE-CONTROLLED explosives strapped to two women with Down’s syndrome were detonated in co-ordinated attacks on pet bazaars in Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi officials said.

The explosions – which Iraqi officials said were detonated by mobile phone, suggesting the women may not have been aware of what was happening – killed at least 73 people and wounded more than 160 in the deadliest day since the United States sent 30,000 extra troops to the capital in spring last year.

The attacks happened at the central al-Ghazl market, where at least 46 were killed, and a market in the New Baghdad area.

Brigadier-General Qassim al-Moussawi, the chief Iraqi military spokesman in Baghdad, claimed that both the women involved, who were killed, had Down’s syndrome.

“The operation was carried out by two booby-trapped mentally disabled women,” he said.

People are expressing shock and outrage that al-Qaeda would stoop to such morally bankrupt methods as to use mentally disabled women to carry out their dirty work. I don’t see why that is surprising to anyone. They have shown no regard for human life from the get-go. They have never shown any compunctions about killing anyone of any age, gender or station in life. Why should this be any different?

The President of Iraq had this to say …

Jalal Talabani, Iraq’s president, said a total of about 70 people were killed in both attacks, which he said were committed by terrorists motivated by revenge and “to show that they are still able to stop the march of history and of our people toward reconciliation”.

The use of women as combatants violates religious taboos in Iraq. This level of desperation on their part is actually fairly predictable. There is nothing they won’t do to create chaos and carnage and prevent any reconciliation between sects in Iraq.

Never forget what your enemy is capable of.

Baghdad