Eight Bombs Plunge Baghdad Into Chaos

BAGHDAD, Iraq April 6, 2010— -- Eight bombs exploded in rapid succession today around Baghdad, throwing the entire city into chaos after one of the most sophisticated attacks in months.

Iraqi officials say at least 49 people have died so far and American sources say the death toll could rise to 60 with more than 100 injured.

The bombs mainly targeted four- and five-story apartment buildings in Shiite Muslim neighborhoods of Western Baghdad, causing several of them to collapse. Pictures on local television showed residents frantically digging through large chunks of concrete and twisted metal to reach survivors. As one elderly woman was removed from the rubble on a stretcher, a small cheer went up from the crowd.

Col. Sattar Jabbar of Iraq's Ministry of Interior said on television said that this was a technique used in previous bombings dating back to 2007. He said the culprits likely rented the apartments "for a few days, brought in the explosives then detonated them."

U.S. military officials confirmed the bombs were a mix of car bombs and explosives planted in buildings. Iraqi security forces were able to defuse bombs in two additional buildings.

A source with Iraqi security forces who did not want to be identified said it was likely the bombs were made of old military ammunition mixed with the military plastic explosive C4. The official was at a loss as to how the attackers were able to move the explosives through a city that has seen a massive security increase since national elections occurred last month.

Iraqi security forces have beefed up their roadblocks, checkpoints and searching techniques throughout the city. Today's attacks are a reminder that insurgents can still pull off large-scale coordinated attacks.