Incident Summary:
10/28/2007: Eight Iraqi civilian tribal chiefs (five Shi is of the Anbakiya and three Sunnis of the al-Azza tribe), all leaders of groups in Diyala (Governorate) opposed to al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI), were kidnapped by an unknown number of Special Groups (reported to be Iranian-backed Shi i terrorist units) perpetrators carrying small arms at a false checkpoint in Husseiniyah neighborhood, al-Shaab district, Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq.
Overview
GTD ID:
200710280001
When:
2007-10-28
Country:
Iraq
Region:
Middle East & North Africa
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Baghdad
City:
Baghdad
Location Details:
At a false checkpoint in Husseiniyah neighborhood, al-Shaab (District),
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
Civilian leaders in Diyala Governorate |
Specific Description |
Tribal chiefs opposed to AQI |
Nationality of Target |
Iraq |
Additional Information
Hostages |
Yes |
Number of Hostages |
8 |
US Hostages |
0 |
Days of Kidnapping |
1 |
Outcome |
Combination |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
No |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Firearms |
Unknown Gun Type |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
One of the Sunni chiefs, Mishaan Hilan, was shot and killed during the kidnapping, which took place as the group was returning from a meeting on anti-AQI efforts with top officials in Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s office; sources did not specific whether Hilan was executed or killing while resisting. The kidnappers later allowed the Shi is to leave but they would not depart without their Sunni comrades. All the surviving victims were rescued in a raid by Iraqi forces at an unspecified location on October 29, 2007, during which four perpetrators were killed and six more were wounded. U.S. military personnel identified the perpetrators as Special Groups operatives under the command of former Mahdi Army brigade commander Arkan Hasnawi. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Shia Muslim extremists |
No |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
5 Fatalities / 6 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
5 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
4 |
Total Number of Injured |
6 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
6 |
Sources
Sources
“The CNN wire: Monday, Oct. 29,” CNN.com, October 29, 2007. |
Stephen R. Hurst, “Suicide bomber on bicycle kills 29 in Iraqi town of Baqouba; kidnapped sheiks freed,” Associated Press Worldstream, October 30, 2007. |
“Xinhua: U.S. military holds Shi i militia leader for Baghdad kidnapping,” Xinhua General News Service, October 29, 2007. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties