On April 21, 2004, a series of large car bomb explosions ripped through Basra, Iraq. 74 people died and more than 100 were injured.

Three separate bombs exploded outside police stations in central Basra; two in the Ashar area and one in the Old City. In these bombings, many children on passing buses were killed.

A fourth, separate attack also occurred around the same time in the town of Zubair . In the fourth attack, two car bombs exploded which killed three Iraqis and wounded five British soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, one seriously. British forces trying to aid casualties were stoned by crowds, who blamed the coalition for not doing enough to protect Iraqi citizens from such attacks.

The attacks were some of the deadliest in southern Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

External Links

• Scores killed in Iraqi bombings April 21, 2004 [BBC]
• 5 Iraqis arrested for Basra bombings April 24, 2004 [CBS]