Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Abu Ghraib Attack
Sunday, April 03, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq — A statement purportedly made by Al Qaeda's wing in
Iraq claimed responsibility Sunday for the attack on the notorious Abu
Ghraib (search) jail west of Baghdad that injured 44 U.S. servicemen
and 12 prisoners.
The statement, posted on a Web site that regularly carries extremist
Islamic material, claimed "snipers" fired more than 39 Katyusha
rockets at U.S. forces before militants detonated several suicide car
bombs at the prison's main gates.
"Then the merciful brigades and Muslim soldiers clashed with the
infidels," added the statement made by the Al Qaeda in Iraq (search)
group, which could not be immediately authenticated.
The statement added that the "well organized attack took place on Abu
Ghraib prison where female prisoners and Muslim POWs are kept."
The group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has said many
of its latest killings were in revenge for Iraqi women being held by
coalition authorities. The U.S. military denies it is holding any
Iraqi women.
The U.S. military said at least 40 militants fired rocket-propelled
grenades and set off two car bombs at the prison as darkness fell
Saturday.
Soldiers and Marines stationed at the detention facility responded,
and the resulting clash and gunfight lasted about 40 minutes. No
prisoners escaped and some of the injuries were serious.
Al Qaeda's statement said the battle continued all night, adding it
was "part of a series battles" and that further details and footage of
the operation would be released later.
Al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for beheading numerous
Western hostages and most major vehicle bombings and killings of
senior Iraqi officials, police, national guards. Al-Zarqawi is one of
the most wanted militants in Iraq.
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