Iraq has hanged three people convicted for a 2016 bombing that killed more than 320 people in a Baghdad shopping district and was claimed by the Islamic State group, the prime minister's office said on Monday.
The bombing was one of the world's deadliest after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
At least 323 people were killed in the car bombing that sparked raging fires in Baghdad's Karrada shopping area early on July 3, 2016 as it teemed with people ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival ending the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, during a meeting with victims' families, informed them "the rightful punishment of death sentence was carried out against three key criminals found guilty of their involvement in the terrorist bombing", his office said in a statement.
It was one of the deadliest attacks to ever hit Iraq.
Police Major General Talib Khalil Rahi said at the time that the bomber's minibus had been loaded with plastic explosives and ammonium nitrate.
The initial blast killed a limited number of people, but flames spread and trapped people inside shopping centres which lacked emergency exits, Rahi told a news conference a few days later.
The raging fires made it difficult to identify the dead.
Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban resigned in the wake of the blast.
- Death sentences -
IS had overrun large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but by the time of the Karrada blast Iraqi forces had regained significant territory from the jihadists, who hit back against civilians in response.
Iraq's government declared victory against IS in late 2017 after a military campaign backed by a United States-led military coalition.
In October 2021 Iraq announced the arrest outside the country of the person it said was the main suspect behind the Karrada blast. Then-prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said Ghazwan Alzawbaee was "the primary culprit" in that attack "and many others."
A government source told AFP that Alzawbaee was among those put to death.
The statement from Sudani's office, however, did not name those executed or say when they were sentenced. It said the executions were carried out Sunday night and Monday morning.
The United Nations estimated in a report in March that IS still has "5,000 to 7,000 members and supporters" across Iraq and neighbouring Syria, "roughly half of whom are fighters".
IS cells continue to target security forces and civilians in both countries but the UN report said IS had been much depleted by "sustained counter-terrorism operations" on both sides of the border.
Over several years, Iraqi courts have handed down hundreds of death sentences as well as life prison terms under the penal code for membership in "a terrorist group".
Iraqi courts also issue the death penalty for intentional homicide.
In 2022 Iraq executed more than 11 people, fewer than in the United States, and sentenced more than 41 to death, according to a report by Amnesty International.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst: 9/10Stock Market Analyst: 6/10General Industry Analyst: 7/10Analyst Summary
:
On Monday, Iraq executed three people convicted for a 2016 bombing that killed more than 320 people in Baghdad. The bombing was one of the world’s deadliest after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. The attack sparked raging fires in Baghdad’s Karrada shopping area and was claimed by the Islamic State group. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani informed victims families that the execution of the death sentence was carried out against three key criminals found guilty of their involvement in the terrorist bombing. The attack was one of the deadliest to ever hit Iraq, and Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban resigned in the wake of the blast. After the attack, Iraq declared victory against the Islamic State in late 2017, and in October 2021 Iraq arrested the main suspect behind the Karrada blast outside of the country.
The execution of the 3 people convicted for the 2016 bombing is significant in the space and defense industry, as it marks a major milestone in the fight against terrorism. The attack was one of the deadliest to ever hit Iraq and the execution of those found guilty will send a strong message to those who seek to harm innocent people. The execution of the death sentence also highlights the effectiveness of the US-led military coalition in aiding Iraq in their fight against the Islamic State, as well as the effectiveness of Iraq’s government in arresting the main suspect outside the country.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What actions have been taken by the US-led military coalition in aiding Iraq in their fight against the Islamic State?
- 2. How did Iraq’s government go about arresting the main suspect behind the Karrada blast?
- 3.
What measures have been taken to ensure similar bombings do not occur again in Iraq?4. What were the effects of the bombing on the Iraqi economy?
5. What impact has the execution of the death sentence had on public opinion in Iraq?
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