NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
December 24, 2004
Release Number: 04-12-52
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INSURGENTS TARGET CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CIVILIANS IN RAMADI
RAMADI, Iraq -- Elements of the 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force responded to attacks by insurgents against the city's local government and civilians here, which may be part of a broader intimidation campaign by the insurgency in advance of the upcoming elections that are slated to occur January 30, 2005.
Dec. 22, a group of masked insurgents set and detonated at least two boxes of explosives after storming into the mayor's office at approximately 2:15 p.m. The explosion destroyed the entire first floor of the building, which caused most of the structure to crumble. An estimated 50 to 60 windows in the surrounding area were broken as a result of the blast. There were no known casualties.
Marines from the 1st Marine Division assisted in securing the site and provided plastic sheeting and other materials to temporarily fix broken and damaged windows in local houses that were affected by the blast.
Insurgents launched three mortars into an eastern Ramadi neighborhood, injuring five children on Dec. 20 at about 3 p.m.
Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Marine Division responded to the scene to investigate the explosions. After arriving at the site of the impacts, U.S. Army medics treated two of the children for minor wounds, and the remaining three children were taken to the local hospital by their parents.
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