Date: 2004-10-30 16:02 Subject: Waiting for Hassan Security: Public Tags: bombing, death, hassan, iraq

A massive explosion shook the company's Baghdad office 30 minutes ago.  Apparently there was a bomb at the Al Arabia TV office on the other side of Al- Rahman Mosque, on Hunting Club Road.  This is less than a kilometer from the office, on a major road that we travel frequently.

News reports on Al Arabiya say it was a carbomb, and that the car pulled up and then detonated immediately.  We're still trying to make sense of this, as that area is extremely secure and normally blocks all vehicular traffic from getting close enough to do a lot of damage.

No one at my office was hurt, although a window was blown out.  However, one my engineers, Hassan, was at the Arabiya office when it happened.  They are a customer.  We are awaiting word.  Ammar and Imad are there now, trying to get in or find out more.

And so again, we wait.

Update: reports say the bomb was small.  There are no deaths reported, and the wounded went to the hospital still able to walk.  That means mostly shrapnel and glass wounds, al hamdu lillah.

Update, 2004.10.30 14:35 GMT: There are now 7 reported dead. Two are positively identified as women, the other five are unknown. Still no word on Hassan.

Update, 2004.10.30 15:30 GMT: It seems my earlier report was dead wrong - this was a big bomb. 31 cars are now known to be destroyed in the immediate area, and the number of dead is expected to be very high. Marwan is there now, and says there are "bodies all over". He cannot get past the US soldiers, and no one is providing more information. The dead and wounded are being taken to Yarmuk hospital, and we'll most probably send someone there next.