Blast Kills 3 at Jordan's Baghdad Embassy

[Pert_UK]

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A huge explosion thought to have been a car bomb rocked the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad Thursday morning, and at least three people were killed.

The shells of three burned-out cars sat outside the wall of the embassy compound at the west edge of the Iraqi capital. Atop the cars was what appeared to be the chassis of a minibus. Nothing else was left of that vehicle.

Two of the dead were still in the burned-out cars. The body of the third victim was taken away in an ambulance.

U.S. soldiers arrived in two tanks and six Humvees soon after the blast, which sent out a huge plumes of thick black smoke towering above the embassy compound."

Full story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2998553,00.html

[molok555]

1. CNN International

just reported at least 8 dead (no link-saw on the tube). Also said there are reports of mass looting after the blast. They also showed video of Iraqis joyously burning pics of King Abdullah and destroying embassy items.

[Judi Lynn]

2. The AP story, a bit later

Could be as many as 12 people killed by now:

(snip) BAGHDAD (AP) - A massive car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in the Iraqi capital Thursday morning. A nearby hospital reported at least seven dead and 28 wounded in the blast.

Paramedics at the scene said 12 bodies had been removed from the tangle of wreckage outside the walled embassy compound. A hospital official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of the injured were in serious condition. Shortly after the blast, angry young Iraqi men stormed to the embassy gate and began destroying pictures of Jordanian King Abdullah II and his late father, king Hussein.

The bomb was believed to have been planted in minibus parked outside the walled embassy compound and detonated remotely. Many cars were gutted and two bodies were seen still sitting in the vehicles. The chassis of the minibus landed on top of three of the burned out cars. (snip/...)

http://www.canoe.com/CNEWS/World/2003/08/07/155147-ap.html