al-Qaeda Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Al Qaeda in Iraq has pulled off two mass-casualty terror bombings in markets in Baghdad. The attacks, which were carried out by mentally impaired women, claimed the lives of at least 73 Iraqi civilians and wounded more than 167. This is not the first time al Qaeda has used mentally and physically handicapped women and children in bombings, as has been reported.

The first attack occurred at the popular Ghazl pet market, where thousands of Baghdadis flock to on Fridays. The bombing killed 46 civilians and wounded more than 100, The Associated Press reported. The second attack occurred just twenty minutes later in a Shia market in southeastern Baghdad. Police reported 27 Iraqi civilians were killed and 67 wounded.

The attacks in Baghdad were not suicide bombings as both women used by al Qaeda were mentally disabled and the vests were detonated remotely, according to General Qasim Atta. "Atta said the women were strapped with dynamite and ball bearings, citing members of the bomb squad," CNN reported. "The explosives were detonated via cell phone." The women were believed to have had Downs Syndrome.

The Associated Press reported al Qaeda is "using new tactics." But al Qaeda's usage of the handicapped women and children to conduct attacks can be traced back as early as the January 2005 election. Al Qaeda pressed a child with Down’s Syndrome to attack a polling station during the January 2005 parliamentary elections.

Source: The Long War Journal