Abou Talha, Tripoli Resident Who Carried Out Suicide Bombing in Baghdad

A suicide attacker who hails from Tripoli has carried out a bombing in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, an operation which was met with mixed reactions by the residents of the northern city.

According to a statement issued by the Vilayet of Baghdad, which is part of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, suicide bomber Hisham al-Hajj detonated a booby-trapped car carrying 300 kilograms of explosive material in an assembly of the Shiite Muslim militia Asaib in Baghdad on the morning of Tuesday, August 26, 2014.

"The operation resulted in the death and injury of dozens of people,” the statement said.

As soon as the news of his death spread in the northern city, picture of Abou Talha were hanged on the walls of Souq al-Attarine, where he spent most of his time.

Al-Hajj, who is also known as Abou Talha and nickcnamed Abou al-Mujahed, resided in al-Rifaiyeh neighborhood in Tripoli before disappearing and leaving for Iraq, LBCI television detailed on Wednesday.

"He was a normal young man who sells bagel. He was an ordinary citizen but he suddenly changed,” one of Abou Talha's neighbors told LBCI.

Another neighbor expressed his surprise over Abou Talha's involvement in Iraq's turmoil.

"Of course we were surprised because we did not know about his departure from the markets (in Tripoli),” he said.

A third northern resident, meanwhile, denied knowing anything about the suicide bomber.

"All I know is that he was a good person who prayed and feared God,” he noted.

But several northern residents praised Abou Talha's path, describing him as the “martyr of Sunnis.”

"He chose jihad and many others did the same,” one person proudly said.

Another commented: “I am the grandfather of 10 children and if I received God's calling, I am ready to go to Iraq and, God willing, follow in his (Abou Talha's) footsteps.”

"They consider that everyone who does so (carries out a suicide attack) is a terrorist. But the man went (to Iraq) to secure the victory of Sunnis,” a Tripoli resident said.

Khaled al-Hajj, nicknamed Abou Hajar al-Lubnani, had gone to Iraq long before Abou Talha and carried out a suicide bombing there.

This comes as Iraq is witnessing quasi daily bloody explosions in both Sunni and Shiite neighborhoods and as the Islamic State has taken control of several towns, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

S.D.B.