Hamra bombing retaliation against Interior Ministry torture

Today two suicide car-bombs will detonate next to the Hamra Hotel, killing 17. Western press will quote U.S. Brig. Gen. Karl Horst telling reporters "I think the target was the Hamra Hotel" where Western news organisations are held, and Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal saying that the target was not the Interior Ministry next-door. However non-Western press will note that there are conflicting reports about the intended target, and will remind readers about torture committed at the Interior Ministry as possible motive.

In January, Abu Musab al-Zarqawis organization, Al Qaeda in Iraq, will claim responsibility for the attack in a video. According to those who have watched video in Arabic

Why attack the compound? The video claims it was in retaliation for the torture of Sunnis at the hands of the Shiite-led Ministry of Interior as well as for the deaths of Iraqi officers by Americans interrogators. They also saw the compound as a den of foreign intelligence, the Badr Brigade and housing for Kurdish pesh merga and Western security companies.

--

Further reading, opinions and commentary:

• Christian Science Monitor, 18 November 2005, 'Suicide-bomber team targets Westeners' hotel in Baghdad'
• Back to Iraq, 07 February 2006, 'Aftermath of the Hamra Bombing
• An independent look at Iraq, 19 November 2005, 'Hamra Hotel bombing photos'. The initial reactions of a journalist who was on the scene. See also his audio diary.
• Iraq National Police Day attack. Another attack against the Iraqi govt forces in retaliation for torture.