AWFUL ACTS OF TERRORISM

SUPERFERRY 14 BOMBINGS

The world’s deadliest terrorist attack at sea happened on February

27, 2004 and resulted in the sinking of SuperFerry 14, 90 minutes

after it sailed from the port of Manila on its way to Cagayan de Oro City.

Perpetrated by an Islamist terrorist group, it concluded in the death

of 116 people. Believed to be an accident at first, investigations later

revealed that a television set with 4 kg of TNT was the cause of the

explosion. Though various terrorists groups claimed the tragedy,

it was found out that it was the Abu Sayyaf, who was behind this atrocity.

LONDON TRANSPORT BOMBING

On July 7, 2005, a series of 3 explosions was heard aboard the

London Underground trains across the city, while the fourth one

exploded in a double-decker in Tavistock Square. The attacks, which

happened the day after the city was chosen to host the 2012 Summer

Olympics, were caused by homemade organic-peroxide-based devices

that were packed into backpacks carried by suicide bombers. The

57-minute attack concluded with the death of 52 civilians and

4 suicide bombers, while injuring 700 more.

SADR CITY BOMBINGS

This November 23, 2006 attack involved a series of car bombs and two

mortar attacks. One of the most tragic terrorist attacks in Baghdad at

least 215 people perished while 257 others were wounded. Having

targeted the Shi’ite Muslim slums in the city, it resulted in a 24-hour

curfew and the shutdown of the Baghdad International Airport. The

Shi’ite Muslims also retaliated by burning 6 Sunni Arabs alive

with kerosene.

MUMBAI TRAIN BOMBINGS

On July 11, 2006, a series of 7 bomb blasts was heard on the Suburban

Railway in Mumbai, which resulted in the death of 209 people and

wounded 714 others. The bombs, which were inside pressure cookers

to increase the after-burn thermobaric reaction were placed in the

first-class compartments and exploded during the afternoon work

rush-hour. Carried out by the Lshkar-e-Talba and the Students Islamic

Movement of India (SIMI), it was in retaliation to the perceived

oppression of the Muslim minorities in the regions of Gujarat

and Kashmir.

BAGHDAD BOMBINGS

One in the never-ending atrocities in Iraq, this terrorist attacks involved

5 car bombs that exploded across the city of Baghdad on April 18,

2007. This violence, which targeted the civilians in Shia that was still being

rebuilt at that time, was reminiscent of the conflicts before the Iraqi

capital was secured. With nearly 200 casualties, it came just as the Iraqi

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that the Iraqi forces would assume

control of the country’s security at the end of the year.

THE AL HILLAH BOMBINGS

This terrorist attack was committed against Shia Muslims, who were on

their way to a pilgrim in Al Hillah on March 6, 2007. Two suicide

bombers donning explosive vests mingled with the crowd who were

celebrating a traditional festival. It claimed the lives of nearly 200 people.

YAZIDI COMMUNITIES BOMBING

The second deadliest attacks ever committed after 9-11, it happened

on August 14, 2007 when four corresponding suicide bombs

exploded in the towns of Yazidi and Jazeera. The most deadly car bomb

assault under major US combat operations, it had estimated

casualties of 796 while 1, 562 people were injured. The two tons of

explosives that the 3 cars and a fuel tanker carried crumbled buildings,

trapping everyone beneath, while others wrecked and flattened

entire neighbourhoods.

9/11

On September 11, 2001, a succession of four coordinated assaults was

launched by the al-Queda in the New York City and Washington DC

areas. Four planes were hijacked by 19 men and two of those planes,

American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, collided into

the north and south towers of the NYC World Trade Centre, which

collapsed within two hours and led to the destruction of nearby

buildings as well. The third plane, American Flight 77, targeted the

Pentagon in Virginia while the last one, United Airlines Flight 93 whose

aim was the Capitol in DC, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when

the passengers tried to overpower the hijackers.

These catastrophic events led to the deaths of 3,000 people.