On Sheik Abdel Kader mosque explosion in Iraq

An explosion occurred in a building within the Sheik Abdel Kader mosque compound yesterday evening in Rusafa, a neighborhood of east Baghdad causing a fire.

The Iraqi fire department responded and began suppressing the fire when firefighters noticed an improvised explosive device inside the mosque.

The Iraqi police explosive ordinance disposal team arrived at the mosque to clear the holy site of bombs and bomb making materials. The team dismantled six IEDs.

Initial reports indicate that two bombers were wounded and another one was killed in the blast.

Iraqi army officials are engaging local leaders to gain more information about the mosque and activities occurring there.

Meantime, an announcement was made by the coalition forces that Ansar al-Islam member, Ali Wali, was killed May 6th at approximately 1 p.m. during a counterterrorist raid in the Mansur district of Baghdad. Iraqi civilians transported the two bodies to the morgue where Coalition forces later confirmed the identity of the wanted terrorist, Ali Wali. Neither Iraqi nor Coalition forces were able to confirm the identity of the driver, who was killed.

Ali Wali, full name believed to be Abbas bin Farnas bin Qafqas, was a 37 or 38-year-old Iraqi Kurd who served as a key leader in Ansar al-Islam’s military (operational) command responsible for training and military operations (terrorist activity) to include the planning of suicide operations (bombings), ambushes and kidnapping.

Meantime, Gulf News reported today that "At least 21 people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a car bomb (in Karbala and)...Two car bombs also exploded in the Iraqi capital on Sunday, killing at least nine people and injuring a further 20."