Al Qaeda Wages War on Iraqi Banks

‘Al-Qaeda’ wages war against Iraqi banks

By Ali Latif

Azzaman, June 21, 2010

Iraq’s al-Qaeda group is said to be directing its deadly and bloody car and suicide bombings against Iraqi banks.

In one week, attacks blamed on the group killed at least 35 people and injured scores as its suicide bombers are said to have targeted a state-owned bank and a private bank.

The first attack targeting the Central Bank on June 13 brought most of Baghdad to a standstill.

The government has blamed the daring attack in which at least 26 people were killed on Qaeda operatives despite allegations that Iraqi security personnel were involved.

There was heavy gunfire and plumes of smoke rose over Baghdad skyline but none of the attackers was killed or captured. Iraqi security forces had cordoned the area and stormed the bank.

A twin suicide bombing on June 21 targeted Iraq’s commercial bank. At least nine people were killed and many others wounded.

It is not clear why the latest attacks have banks as their major targets and why would Qaeda shift attention to the country’s financial institutions.

Iraqi troops and bodyguards assigned to protect senior politicians have previously been implicated in such attacks in which millions of dollars were stolen.