A car bomb exploded outside the home of a top Iraqi security official Saturday, killing at least five people and destroying several vehicles on an east Baghdad street, according to police.
The explosion wounded Abdul-Jabbar Youssef al-Sheikhli, one of three deputy interior ministers and a member of the Shiite Dawa party. A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said al-Sheikhli had head and chest injuries and was in stable condition at a nearby hospital.
It was the second blast in a week to target a senior Iraqi government official.
Police and American military officers at the scene said the five dead included four Iraqi policemen and a woman neighbor who died in her home.
For his part, US Army Capt. Brian O'Malley said the blast took place at about 8:05 a.m. [local time] and was caused by a "vehicle-borne improvised explosive device." It was unclear whether the bomb was detonated by a suicide attacker.
Over an hour after the blast, smoke rose from several wrecked cars, and debris was scattered in the street. The explosion also knocked down part of a wall adjoining the sidewalk.
Three palm trees in the garden of the deputy minister's home were blackened from the explosion. Bloodstains could be seen inside the two-story house and on the street. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
