Chlorine Bombs Kill 10, Injure at Least 350 in Iraq

by Karen Brulliard, Washington Post Staff Writer
March 17, 2007

In yet another example of how the situation in Iraq is continuing to spiral out of the United States' hands, more bombs laced with chlorine gas exploded in Anbar yesterday. In one of the most extensive attacks in recent memory, the truck bombs caused over 350 injuries while killing at least 10. 2 of the slain included two Iraqi police officers and 7 U.S. Army members were injured. Three bombs in total exploded, releasing the gas that was often used in World War 1 from 200-gallon tanks. Previous chlorine attacks in Iraq have already occured, and last month, US forces raided a factory that was supposedly building these weapons. Obviously, this is an indicator of how the insurgents haven't really felt the affect of the so-called security crackdown in and around Baghdad, because their attacks are taking a new, more violent turn. This fifth incident with chlorine can only be a negative sign for progress in Iraq because of the insurgents new ability to detonate chemical bombs.