A truck bomb and rocket attack on a Baghdad market killed nearly 100 civilians, exposing alleged Iraqi government underreporting of the capital's death toll.
Key Facts
- Date
- 26 July 2007
- Attack type
- Truck bomb and rocket attack
- Location
- Karada district market, Baghdad
- Confirmed dead (compiled list)
- 92 people
- Confirmed wounded (compiled list)
- 127 people
- Initially reported dead
- 25 people
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the height of sectarian violence in post-invasion Iraq, the Karada district of Baghdad was targeted in an attack amid widespread insurgent activity. The area was a civilian market, making it a target for attacks intended to maximize casualties and destabilize daily life in the capital.
On 26 July 2007, a truck bomb combined with a rocket attack struck a market in the Karada district of Baghdad. Initial official reports stated only 25 people were killed and 100 wounded, but rescue workers compiled a separate list showing 92 dead and 127 wounded, which was posted on a shuttered storefront within a week of the attack.
The discrepancy between official figures and the rescue workers' compiled list of 92 dead fueled public distrust, with many Iraqis interpreting the gap as a deliberate attempt by the Iraqi government to conceal the true scale of violence in Baghdad. The incident highlighted concerns about transparency regarding civilian casualties during the conflict.