PRT SALAH AD DIN: AD-DUJAYL CITY COUNCIL

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003028

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: AD-DUJAYL CITY COUNCIL
CRITICIZES GOI AND PROVINCIAL RESPONSE TO 12 SEPTEMBER
BOMBING ATTACK

REF: BAGHDAD 2987

Classified By: PRT Team Leader R. Bell, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is a PRT Salah ad Din reporting cable.

Summary
--------------


2. (S) The September 16 Ad Dujayl City Council criticized GOI
and provincial responses to the September 12 car bombing
(reftel). The Council thanked Coalition Forces (CF) for
their quick response and support, complained about
uncoordinated emergency response from the Iraqi Army (IA) and
Iraqi Police (IP),and inadequate hospital facilities for
crisis care. Council members also criticized insufficient
support from GOI and provincial authorities in the aftermath
of the attack, despite the governor's September 14 visit to
Ad Dujayl and distribution of personal compensation to the
victims. The council members said the incident highlights
the need for increased vigilance, better resources, and
training for the city's emergency responders. Although
presumed to be an attack by AQI, the proximity of the attack
to offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) has
spurred speculation of an anti-Kurd effort by militant Jaysh
al Mahdi (JAM) or Shia criminal groups. Residents of the city
remain cautious following the attack. End Summary.

Emergency Responders Lack Resources and Training
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3. (SBU) In a September 16 meeting of the Ad Dujayl City
Council, Council Chairman Bahir Banda thanked CF for their
response and willingness to assist and said they will never
forget how quickly CF reacted. Bahir said the main lesson
learned from the incident is that the city of Ad Dujayl "can
never be careless again." The Council said the bombing
highlighted the need for a hospital in the city, because
victims had to be rushed great distances to receive critical
care; five victims died from massive bleeding during
transport. According to the Chairman, the city's two
ambulances were not enough, and he was forced to transport
wounded to the hospital in his own car. At the hospital in
Balad, people were turned away or given only bandages and no
stitches, even though they had deep wounds. Witnesses also
reported that it appeared nurses were not trained to handle
such cases at the clinics or hospital.


4. (SBU) District Director of Health Dr. Mohammed claims to
have been one of the first responders on site, followed by
Bahir and other Council members. All claimed to have
responded on their own initiative after hearing the blast,
without being contacted by the Iraqi Police (IP). According
to the Council members, the incident highlighted the
inability of IP/Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to respond
efficiently to emergencies; the ISF were confused and the
IP's response was "zero". Coordination among IP, fire
department, and other first responders was non-existent and
city residents are demanding the immediate firing of all IP
and ISF leaders for their failure to prevent the attack or
respond appropriately.

SaD Authorities Reaching Out to Ad Dujayl Community
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5. (SBU) The Salah ad Din Governor visited Dujayl September
14 along with members of the Provincial Council. He
expressed his sympathies and support for the affected
families, and told the local officials he would assist in
every way possible. The Governor brought 33 envelopes
containing 100,000 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) each for each family
who suffered a loss. The Provincial Council brought 35
envelopes with 1,000,000 IQD in each, which they gave to
Mayor Mohammed Hassan and Chairman Bahir to distribute. The
District Council said the PC money for victims was
insufficient to meet their needs. (100,000 IQD is equivalent
to about 85 USD per person). The GOI has not offered any
compensation thus far, although the Dujayl Council was told
that after an assessment of the damages, funds may be
available.

Ongoing Security Concerns
--------------


6. (SBU) The Council said the attack was surprising given
security in Ad Dujayl had been adequate, although there has
been some insurgent activity in the western part of the
district. A local daily newspaper recently "reported
concerns about security in an area known as Sayed Ghareeb."
A few days earlier, the District Council had discussed the
issue of security and the need to be vigilant in the area.

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On the 3rd and the 10th days of Ramadan, the Provincial
Director of Police (PDOP) visited the district and advised
the local chief of police to take increased security measures
during Ramadan. The PDOP also warned that there were
terrorists in the area who were seeking revenge because many
residents of Ad Dujayl had testified against Saddam Hussein
during the 2006 trial, which led to his conviction and
execution.

Reasons Behind the Attack Unclear
--------------


7. (SBU) The attack occurred near the building housing the
political party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),although
no PUK members were hurt in the attack. While the common
assumption is that it was the work of AQI, CF have not ruled
out the possibility that it was aimed at the PUK by a
militant JAM or other Shia criminal groups, in response to
escalating tensions between Kurdish peshmerga and the GOI in
Diyala Province. According to Chairman Bahir, however, the
purpose was to kill innocent civilians and to stir fear in
the population. The high casualty count has made local store
owners uneasy and uncertain about going back to work. The
District Council called for a three-day period of mourning to
conclude on Tuesday September 16.

CF Response to the Ad Dujayl Bombing
--------------

8. (S) According to CF intelligence shared with the PRT, the
VBIED was most likely associated with AQI cells that operate
in the Ad Dujayl area, and this attack appears to be part of
a larger, Iraq-wide strategy by AQI to increase spectacular
attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ad Dujayl
JCC reported that two males between the ages of 18 and 22
reportedly dropped the vehicle off and fled the area, which
indicates this was not a suicide attack. The VBIED detonated
roughly five minutes before the end of the day's fast, at a
peak time for the population to celebrate the day's ending.
CROCKER