DUBAI (Al Arabiya)
Al Arabiya news channel condemned the latest "targeted" suicide bombing attack on its bureau station in Baghdad on Monday that left four people dead and more than 10 others wounded.
“The intensity of the bomb and its timing means that it was intended to destroy the whole office and kill everyone there. It was a professionally planned attack. Iraq’s internal security forces have discovered the identity of the perpetrator(s) but they did not specify if she or they belong(s) to any known militant group operating in the country,” Al Arabiya said in an official statement.
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A total of 15 Al Arabiya team members have been killed and tens injured since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
“Al Arabiya is being made to pay the price of freedom of expression; the price of its leadership and non-biased stance in Iraq; and the price of its high level of engagement with loyal Iraqi citizens/viewers,” the statement added.
In spite of recent attacks, Al Arabiya said it was determined to continue its coverage of the war-torn country.
“Al Arabiya is fully committed to continue its in-depth coverage from Iraq, to tackle real issues and to uncover wrongs, for the greatest benefit of the Iraqi people”.”
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'Umm Haitham'
One of the four people killed in yesterday's attack was Amira Haitham, the caterer working for Al Arabiya’s office.
known as ‘Umm Haitham’ or ‘mother of Haitham’ , an Arab custom of calling a person according to their eldest son or daughter, was the sole breadwinner of her family of six since her husband suffers from a disability.
“I challenge any person that worked or entered the Al Arabiya office, if they did not drink from Umm Haitham’s tea or ate the food she made,” said Jawad Kathim, a correspondent and presenter in Baghdad.
While Ummm Haitham was preparing breakfast for Al Arabiya’s staff, the bomber struck at around 9:30 am (06:30 GMT) near the city center.
Umm Haitham came unscathed from the 2003 and 2004 deadly bombings targeting Al Arabiya that left many people killed.
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