Iraqi resistance fighters launched three coordinated attacks in the southern city of Karbala on Saturday, killing 13 people, including six Iraqi police officers, one civilian and six occupation soldiers - four Bulgarians and two Thais. In addition, more than 170 people were wounded, a Polish commander said.
One car bomb detonated in front of the main Iraqi police station in Karbala, injuring five soldiers from the U.S. Army's 18th Military Police Brigade as well as an unknown number of Iraqi police, said Lt. Col. Tom Evans, deputy commander of the brigade. Two men were detained in connection with the bombing, Evans said.
Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala said five of the wounded suffered serious injuries.
"It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," Tyszkiewicz said from his headquarters at Camp Babylon. "Four car bombs were used, grenade launchers and guns. We have sent rapid reaction forces and 10 helicopters."
The drivers of the car bombs were shot before they could enter the military bases, he said, according to The AP.
"There were different types of attacks at different places," said U.S. Maj. Ralph Manos, a spokesman for the multinational force.
The attackers targeted two military camps at the city's university and at a police station, as well as the mayor's office.
Col. Mariusz Michalski, another "coalition" spokesman, told the Polish news agency PAP that two soldiers died at the Bulgarian camp. Later it was reported that four Bulgarian died after one suicide bomber gained entry to the camp, cutting through roadblocks in a car and destroying a building where the headquarters of the unit was located. (Albawaba.com)
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