2007-2008 Terror Events
1st Algiers, Algeria bombings
On 11 April 2007 there were 2 suicide car bombs explosions, One explosion at HQ of the Prime minister left 12 people dead and 118 injured. The second explosion occurred in Bab Ezzouar district near the international airport left 11 dead, 44 injured. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Ankara, Turkey bombing
On 22 May 2007 in Ankara, capital of Turkey there was a suicide bomb attack in a shopping centre in Ankara. 9 people dead & 121 people wounded.
Glasgow Airport attack, UK
On 30 June 2007, there was a suicide car bomb attack on the Glasgow International Airport, Scotland with propane canisters. Security bollards stopped the car at the entrance of the terminal, so only the doors were shattered. The car’s driver Khalid Ahmed set the jeep & himself on fire while trying to ignite explosives. The car would have caused large amounts of casualties if they had exploded.
Hyderabad, India bombings
On 25 Aug 2007 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (Indian state) two bombs exploded in Lumbini Amusement Park at 19:45 hrs & in Gokul Chat Bhandar a popular restaurant about 5 kilometers away. The next day 19 unexploded bombs (fitted with timers in plastic bags) were discovered in Hyderabad – at bus stops, cinemas, roads, bridges. The banned Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) militant outfit of Bangladesh was suspected.
Certain masterminds of such attacks live in Pakistan and recruit people for arms training from Hyderabad.
Qahtaniya bombings
On August 14, 2007 in the Kurdish towns of Qahtaniya and Jazeera, 4 suicide car bomb attacks detonated, targeting the Yazidi – a Kurdish religious minority. 2 tons of explosives used in the blasts crumbled buildings & neighborhoods leaving entire families trapped under mud bricks. 796 dead and 1,562 wounded.
Al-Qaeda was considered prime suspect as they distributed leaflets denouncing Yazidis as “anti-Islamic”. On September 3, 2007, the U.S. Military killed the mastermind of the bombings, Abu Mohammed al-Afri.
Karachi bombing
There were 2 bomb blasts in Karachi Pakistan, aimed at Shia Muslims. A motorbike laden with explosives hit a bus which was carrying Shia Muslims leaving12 dead, 50 people injured taken to Jinnah Hospital. The second bomb exploded outside this hospital leaving 13 dead.
The Sunni – Shia conflict: After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, dispute between Shia – Sunni originated over who should lead the Muslims. Worldwide, Sunnis are majority, while Shias are approx
10% of all Muslims. Sunni Muslim who are extremists, including the Taliban, regard Shi’ites as heretics. Shi’ites make up one- fifth of Pakistan’s population, while Sunnis account for about 70 percent. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has accused the extremists of trying to make Pakistan’s people “fight one another”. The Pakistani military has been mounting an offensive to oust militants from their strongholds in northwestern tribal regions. The militants have retaliated with bombs and shooting attacks across the country. Karachi had been largely spared from the violence.
Baghlan bombing, Afghanistan
On 6 Nov 2007 in Baghlan, Afghanistan a suicide bomb exploded in sugar factory, during a visit by members of the National Assembly of Afghanistan.100 people dead including six legislators.
Philippine Congress bombing
On 13 Nov 2007, at the National Assembly Complex in Quezon city, Philippines a blast occurred, planted in a nearby motorcycle, targeting a Basilian representative – Wahab Akbar who died, along with other congressmen. 4 other people dead & 12 injured.
2nd Algiers bombings
On 11 Dec 2007 Algiers, two car bombs with 800 kg explosives, was exploded by Al Qaeda. Home made nitroglycerin bombs, with iron nails were used at the Supreme Constitutional Court & at the United Nations Building which partially collapsed. 31 people died in the bombings, 177 people wounded.
Assassination of Benazir Bhutto
On 27 December 2007 at Rawalpindi, Benazir Bhutto, twice Prime Minister of Pakistan & current leader of the opposition, Pakistan Peoples Party, was shot after a political rally. A suicide bomb was detonated immediately following the shooting. She died of a skull fracture because of the explosion causing her head to strike the sunroof of the car. 23 other people died. After returning from exile two months earlier Bhutto had survived a similar attempt on her life that killed at least 139 people. Al-Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al-Yazid claimed responsibility for the assassination. Many of Bhutto’s supporters believed that the Musharraf government was involved in the assassination. Bhutto anticipated that three senior allies of President Musharraf were out to kill her in a secret email to Foreign Secretary written weeks before her death.
The Jaipur, Rajasthan, India bombings
On 13 May 2008 Jaipur, nine bombs exploded near historic monuments close to Jaipur’s most famous landmarks, including the historic Hawa Mahal. 63 dead with 216 injured. Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks and said they would “demolish the faith (Hinduism)” of the “infidels of India”. A Bangladesh based organization, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) or “Islamic Holy War Movement”, was suspected. Following this, India planned to expel 50,000 Bangladeshi migrants in Rajasthan.
Danish embassy
On 30 September 2005, 12 cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, started the Muhammad cartoons controversy. The cartoons contained illustrations of Muhammad and were described as blasphemous to people of the Muslim faith, The cartoons were soon reprinted in newspapers in about 50 countries. There were protests across the Muslim world, including setting fire to the Danish Embassies in Syria, Lebanon and Iran.
Indian embassy
On 7 July 2008, in the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan a suicide bomb attack took place near the gate, leaving 58 dead and 141 wounded. The US President George Bush warned the Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of serious action.
Bangalore bombings
On 25 July 2008 in Bangalore, which houses 40% of country’s IT & software industry, a series of nine low intensity gelatin bombs with timer devices with mobile phone triggers exploded in which two people were killed and 20 injured.
This was followed by the Ahmedabad serial blasts on 26 July 2008
Islamabad bombing
On 20 September 2008 at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, a truck bomb detonated leaving 54 dead, 266 wounded and a 6 meter deep & 20 meter wide deep crater outside the hotel. Fedayan-i-Islam – translated as “Islamic Commandos” – a Dubai based group has taken responsibility for the attack and issued several demands for Pakistan to stop its cooperation with the United States.
3rd Delhi bombing, India
On 13 September 2008 in Delhi, 5 bombs exploded at busy markets & commercial locations with at least 30 people killed and over 100 injured. Low intensity ammonium nitrate with integrated circuits & timer devices were used
There have been 3 bomb attacks in India the same year, in Jaipur (13 May), Bangalore (25 July), Ahmedabad (26 July).
- The Jaipur blasts responsibility was taken by Indian Mujahideen declaring “open war” against India in retaliation for what it said were 60 years of Muslim persecution and the country’s support of United States in Afghanistan.
- The Bangalore blasts suspects are banned organisation Students Islamic Movement of India or the militant organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba The Ahmedabad blasts, Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the terror attacks.
- IM – Police say the Indian Mujahideen is an offshoot of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India, but allege that local Muslims are given training and backing from militant groups in neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- On 27 September 2008 Delhi, again blasts occurred in Mehrauli’s flower market leaving 3 people dead 23 wounded. Crude tiffin box cardboard bombs were used without timers. Two Bangladeshis, Yessin Muhammad and Muhammed Majruddin, were arrested in West Bengal for their role in the bombing. Police recovered five crude bombs & a country-made revolver from their possession.
2008 Assam bombings, India
On October 30, 2008, Assam, eighteen bombs synchronously exploded causing 77 deaths and 470 injured. The separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), fighting for an independent home for the state’s 26 million people, are the suspects behind the attacks. But ULFA has denied responsibility for the attack.
(Assam’s largest tribe, the Bodo, often clashed with local Muslims in murderous riots. One such instance in the same month left 53 people dead)
