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Suicide bombers detonate bombs at Buratha Mosque in Kadamiyah

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Reports indicate multiple suicide bombers detonated explosive devices at the Buratha Mosque in Kadamiyah, reportedly killing an estimated 75 Iraqis and wounding 135 at approximately 4 p.m. April 7.

Reporting indicates that there were three male suicide bombers on the inside and one female suicide bomber on the outside of the Shiite mosque.

Iraqi army, Iraqi police and firemen were on scene within minutes providing security and medical assistance. The bombings resulted in no structural damage to the mosque.

Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers arrived later and established a protective outer cordon.

All the wounded have been evacuated to local area hospitals.

The use of a woman as a suicide bomber, a proven tactic of Al-Qaeda, is reminiscent of the female suicide bomber in Tal Afar who killed eight people in Sept. 2005 and another attack in Oct. against an American patrol in Mosul.

The Buratha mosque is the second most significant Shiite mosque in Baghdad. It is a historical mosque and the headquarters of Jalel Addeen Asaghir, an Iraqi parliament member. Sayed Mohamad Baqir al-Hakim, the leader of Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the son of Grand Ayatollah Sayed Muhsin Al Hakim also worships at the Buratha Mosque.

"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Iraqi people. This was a terrible tragedy," said Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, commanding general. "This clearly shows the inhuman and barbarous nature of the terrorists we are fighting. They will stop at nothing to incite sectarian violence and disrupt the forming of a national unity government."

The incident is under investigation by Iraqi authorities.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq