It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss Civilians and security forces inspect the aftermath of the car bomb attack at the Babylon hotelCivilians and security forces inspect the aftermath of a car bomb attack at the Babylon hotelIsis Baghdad hotel bombings: Death toll rises to 15 as police defuse third bomb after night of chaosEmail already exists. Please Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The apparently coordinated blasts targeted the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar (formerly Sheraton) and Babylon hotels in the center of the Iraqi capital. try again, the name must be uniquePlease try again, the name must be unique The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to {{#replies}} try again, the name must be unique BAGHDAD — A coordinated bomb attack hit two of the Iraqi capital’s most upmarket hotels Thursday night in a strike at targets frequented by … There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts try again, the name must be uniquePlease Orla Guerin, a BBC correspondent, described how the second blast shook the broadcaster's office and said she heard gunfire and sirens in the aftermath of the explosions.Windows were blown out at the hotels, where entrances were severely damaged and cars were destroyed, starting huge fires that lit up the night sky and sent smoke over Baghdad.Police said a third car bomb found near the Babylon was discovered and defused early on Friday before it could explode.Both five-star hotels are heavily guarded and have security measures in place for vehicles trying to enter.They are known to be frequented by large numbers of officials, aid workers, journalists and Westerners and the Cristal, while it was still the Sheraton, was one of the most popular hotels in Baghdad before the Gulf War.After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was hit with mortars and rockets as the tallest building in Baghdad and was hit by another bomb attack in 2005 that closed it for a year.Almost 40 people died in another car bomb explosion outside the hotel in 2010.Luxury hotels have also been targeted in terror attacks in Pakistan, Jordan and Indonesia in the last decade.Members of Isis operating in Baghdad have claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to a translation of a bulletin by Charlie Winter, a researcher for the counter-terrorism organisation, the Quilliam Foundation.The so-called Islamic State, which controls swathes of nearby Anbar province including the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, frequently uses car bombs and explosives in terror attacks on government strongholds.Enter your email to follow new comments on this article.Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Please Baghdad was rocked by two blasts on one of the busiest nights of the weekPanic took hold in Baghdad last night as the Iraqi capital was hit by co-ordinated bombings at two luxury hotels, which Isis fighters have claimed responsibility for.At least 15 people died and dozens more were wounded in the explosions at the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar and Babylon Warwick hotels.The first bomb was detonated in the car park of the Babylon, frequently used for government meetings and news conferences, shortly before midnight (10pm BST).Minutes later, the second blast hit the famous Cristal Grand Ishtar hotel, formerly the Sheraton.In Iraq, like most Muslim-majority countries, the weekend starts on Friday to allow for Jumu'ah prayers and Thursday is one of the busiest nights for dining and socialising. {{#sender.isSelf}} Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Baghdad has seen the explosion of two car bombs on Thursday night, one at the Babylon Hotel garage, and the other at Ishtar Sheraton Hotel garage in central Baghdad… Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post will be published daily in dedicated articles. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. The most insightful comments on all subjects At least 15 people died and dozens more were wounded in the explosions at the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar and Babylon Warwick hotels. the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. The hotel's architecture is a Ziggurat, in the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?
It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss Civilians and security forces inspect the aftermath of the car bomb attack at the Babylon hotelCivilians and security forces inspect the aftermath of a car bomb attack at the Babylon hotelIsis Baghdad hotel bombings: Death toll rises to 15 as police defuse third bomb after night of chaosEmail already exists. Please Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The apparently coordinated blasts targeted the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar (formerly Sheraton) and Babylon hotels in the center of the Iraqi capital. try again, the name must be uniquePlease try again, the name must be unique The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to {{#replies}} try again, the name must be unique BAGHDAD — A coordinated bomb attack hit two of the Iraqi capital’s most upmarket hotels Thursday night in a strike at targets frequented by … There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts try again, the name must be uniquePlease Orla Guerin, a BBC correspondent, described how the second blast shook the broadcaster's office and said she heard gunfire and sirens in the aftermath of the explosions.Windows were blown out at the hotels, where entrances were severely damaged and cars were destroyed, starting huge fires that lit up the night sky and sent smoke over Baghdad.Police said a third car bomb found near the Babylon was discovered and defused early on Friday before it could explode.Both five-star hotels are heavily guarded and have security measures in place for vehicles trying to enter.They are known to be frequented by large numbers of officials, aid workers, journalists and Westerners and the Cristal, while it was still the Sheraton, was one of the most popular hotels in Baghdad before the Gulf War.After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was hit with mortars and rockets as the tallest building in Baghdad and was hit by another bomb attack in 2005 that closed it for a year.Almost 40 people died in another car bomb explosion outside the hotel in 2010.Luxury hotels have also been targeted in terror attacks in Pakistan, Jordan and Indonesia in the last decade.Members of Isis operating in Baghdad have claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to a translation of a bulletin by Charlie Winter, a researcher for the counter-terrorism organisation, the Quilliam Foundation.The so-called Islamic State, which controls swathes of nearby Anbar province including the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, frequently uses car bombs and explosives in terror attacks on government strongholds.Enter your email to follow new comments on this article.Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Please Baghdad was rocked by two blasts on one of the busiest nights of the weekPanic took hold in Baghdad last night as the Iraqi capital was hit by co-ordinated bombings at two luxury hotels, which Isis fighters have claimed responsibility for.At least 15 people died and dozens more were wounded in the explosions at the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar and Babylon Warwick hotels.The first bomb was detonated in the car park of the Babylon, frequently used for government meetings and news conferences, shortly before midnight (10pm BST).Minutes later, the second blast hit the famous Cristal Grand Ishtar hotel, formerly the Sheraton.In Iraq, like most Muslim-majority countries, the weekend starts on Friday to allow for Jumu'ah prayers and Thursday is one of the busiest nights for dining and socialising. {{#sender.isSelf}} Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Baghdad has seen the explosion of two car bombs on Thursday night, one at the Babylon Hotel garage, and the other at Ishtar Sheraton Hotel garage in central Baghdad… Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post will be published daily in dedicated articles. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. The most insightful comments on all subjects At least 15 people died and dozens more were wounded in the explosions at the five-star Cristal Grand Ishtar and Babylon Warwick hotels. the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. The hotel's architecture is a Ziggurat, in the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?