BAGHDAD — 2005 · Major Tragedy
Al-Aimmah Bridge Stampede
On 31 August 2005, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims heading to the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim in Baghdad were caught in a huge crush on the Al-Aimmah Bridge over the Tigris. A mortar attack had struck the area that morning, and panic broke out when a rumour spread that a suicide bomber was in the crowd on the bridge. People were crushed, and many fell into the river when the bridge railings gave way. More than 950 people died, many of them women and elderly people. It was one of the deadliest single days in post-2003 Iraq. Accounts of local residents who jumped into the river to rescue victims also appeared in the press at the time.
- Date
- 2005
- Place
- Al-Aimmah Bridge, Kadhimiya, Iraq, Baghdad, IQ
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 33.3700, 44.3400 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 31 August 2005, morningMortar fire struck the area around the shrine.
- 31 August 2005A bomb rumour triggered panic and a crush on the bridge.
- 1 September 2005The toll was reported to exceed 950.
Sources
- CNN — Iraq stampede cnn.com ↗
- The New York Times — 950 die in stampede on Baghdad bridge nytimes.com ↗
- BBC News — Baghdad stampede news.bbc.co.uk ↗
- CNN
- The New York Times
- BBC News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.