2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings

The 2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings were car bombings that tore through a funeral procession in Najaf and through the main bus station in nearby Karbala—two Shia holy cities – on 19 December 2004.^[1][2] 66 people were killed and 191 wounded.^[3][4]

2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings
Part of Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006) in Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
Location	Najaf and Karbala, Iraq
Date	19 December 2004 (UTC+3)
Target	Funeral procession, Imam Ali Mosque
Attack type	Suicide car bombings
Deaths	66
Injured	191
Perpetrators	Unknown, denied by Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Motive	Anti-Shi'ism

Perpetrators

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn ('al-Qaeda in Iraq') said that the group was not responsible for these attacks.^[3]

References

1. "Fast Facts: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi". Fox News. Associated Press. 8 June 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
2. "62 Iraqis killed in Karbala-Najaf bombings". People's Daily Online. 21 December 2004. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
3. "Coalition Warfare, Part II: How Zarqawi Fits into Bin Laden's World Front". Terrorism Focus. 2 (8). The Jamestown Foundation. 28 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
4. Penhaul, Karl; Perry, Cal; Sadeq, Kianne; al-Mufti, Nermeen; Flower, Kevin; Halasz, Stephanie (19 December 2004). "Bombs in Karbala, Najaf kill 67". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 December 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2019.