Upscale Baghdad hotels blasted by terrorist car bomb attacks

a midnight curfew in FebJad riya neig hborhood, ruary that had been in force where a bulldozer was for a decade. scooping up rubble Friday

A statement from the below gaping windows and Islamic State Islamic State posted to the the destroyed lobby. The militants asserted responInternet claimed that it hotel, a prominent feature sibility Friday for coordicarried out the attack, one of Baghdad’s skyline, facnated attacks on two of the of its most high-profile in es the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi capital’s most upmarthe capital since the group Baghdad’s fortified Green ket hotels. The bombings took control of much of the Zone across the Tigris claimed at least 15 lives as country’s north last sumRiver. lavish weekendmer.wedding The Babylon, run by parties were in full swing. The statement said one Warwick International Ho

Two cars rigged with of the group’s Iraqi militels, had reopened this year explosives blew up withtants parked one car at after a massive refurbishin minutes of each other Baghdad’s Cristal Grand ment and is frequented by around midnight ThursIshtar hotel before driving foreign businessmen. day. At least 15 people were another to the $250-a-night The second blast hit near killed and 42 wounded, said Babylon Hotel and blowing the Cristal Grand Ishtar, a security official who dehimself up. formerly the Sheraton hotel.clinedtobenamedbecauseTheIslamicState’sfrehe was not authorized to quent suicide bombings he hotel’s manager, give out information. normally ta rget Shiite Faez al-Sufer, said the ve

The bombings are likeneighborhoods in the city, hicle had sneaked in with a ly to shake a rebounding striking restaurants and wedding convoy, with mulnight life in Baghdad, folbusy shopping streets. tiple celebrations cramlowing Prime Minister The first explosion hit ming the hotel’s function Haider al-Abadi’s lifting of the Babylon Hotel in the rooms.

The Washington Post Car bombs damaged two downtown Baghdad hotels Thursday. Preparations for weekend nightclub and wedding par ties can over whelm security.