2010 Baqubah bombings

On 3 March 2010, a series of three bombings occurred in Baqubah, a mixed Sunni and Shia city that serves as the capital of Diyala Governorate, located approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of Baghdad, Iraq. The attacks killed at least 33 people and injured 55 others.

The bombings took place in the lead-up to Iraq's parliamentary elections, which were scheduled for 7 March 2010. At 9:45 am local time, a car bomb was detonated near a police station in the western part of the city. Moments later, a second car bomb exploded approximately 100 yards (91 m) away, near the provincial building. Subsequently, a suicide bomber detonated a device at the hospital where some of the wounded from the earlier blasts were being treated; this bomber had posed as a police lieutenant and arrived at the hospital by ambulance. A fourth bomb was discovered near the hospital and was defused before it could detonate.

In the aftermath, authorities imposed a full curfew on Baqubah, which barred even pedestrian movement. Among those killed were ten policemen and Dr. Ali al-Timimi, the head of Diyala Governorate's health department.

No organization claimed responsibility for the bombings. The Islamic State of Iraq had previously stated its intention to disrupt the upcoming 7 March elections. Both American and Iraqi authorities reportedly warned that further attacks could occur both before and after the elections. Despite these concerns, early voting proceeded as scheduled on the morning of 4 March.

In response to the attacks, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell stated: "It's disgraceful, it's deplorable. We strongly condemn it, that said, neither this attack nor any of the previous attempts to derail the electoral process and to destabilise the government have been or will be successful."

No individual or group has been publicly charged or convicted in connection with these bombings according to available reporting.