11 killed in Bulgarian helicopter downing in Baghdad

Armed attacks escalated in Iraq. Police sources in Beiji to the north of Baghdad said that the body of 19 persons for members of the national guards were found.

This came after announcing the killing of 11 persons when gunmen downed by one missile a Bulgarian commercial helicopter. News reports indicated that six of the killed persons were Americans; two from the Philippines working with the special security companies contracting to work with the American forces and three Bulgarians who were members of the crew.

The statement of the American embassy in Baghdad said that the Russian made M-8 plane was downed while flying near al-Taremeyah area to the north of Baghdad. In a statement issued on the Internet, the Islamic Army In Iraq said it "downed a commercial helicopter in Iraq today ( Thursday)."

The plane's owner company is Bulgarian and all its passengers are civilians. It was also found out that the plane was rented to Sky link air company for supplies services in Baghdad which has the US as a headquarters. It is not clear if its security contract is with the US Department Of State or with the ministry of defense.

By this attack which is presumably the first in which one civilian plane is attacked in Iraq, the number of Bulgarians killed increased to 14. They are 8 soldiers and 6 civilians. The only civilian plane which is believed to be attacked was a DHL plane which was hit by one missile while taking off from Baghdad airport in November 2003 but was able to return back and land safely.