Incident Summary:

07/18/2006: Thirty to forty unknown gunmen fired motars in a crowded market, and stormed it with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades in Mahmoudiya, Iraq. Fifty-six people were killed and most of them were Shiia. Some vehicles and market stalls were damaged. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

GTD ID:
200607170001

When:
2006-07-17

Country:
Iraq

Region:
Middle East & North Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Babil

City:
Near Mahmudiyah

Location Details:
large agricultural town, 30km south of Baghdad

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description army checkpoints
Nationality of Target Iraq
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description a Shi i funeral cortege
Nationality of Target Iraq
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Handgun
Explosives Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.)
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information A written statement in the name of the insurgent group al-Qaida in Iraq said the attack targeted local leaders of the Mahdi Army.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown Unknown
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 45
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 56 Fatalities / 67 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 56
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities Unknown
Total Number of Injured 67
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
Patrick Cockburn, "Gunmen kill 56 in sectarian attack on Iraqi market town", Independent, UK, July 18, 2006
James Hider, "Armed gang seal market and murder 60 shoppers", The Times, London, July 18, 2006
Ellen Knickmeyer, "Military-Style Assault Kills Dozens in Iraqi Marketplace", The Washington Post, July 17, 2006