This morning I took my camera and headed to the blast site. I saw the damaged theater, a large number of local police in addition to some crime scene investigators. The blast was extremely powerful, as evidenced by the damage to the adjacent buildings. My full updated report is here; the deceased has been confirmed as Briton Jonathan Adams.
Glass was all over the street across from the theater and some house windows were shattered. It was a nasty scene! A number of the neighborhood cars were also damaged. The residents I spoke with were still shaken by last night’s blast and couldn’t believe that this was happening in relatively quiet Doha. Officials are now indicating that the bomber was an Egyptian national named Omar Ahmed Abdullah (Click here for photo). The Egyptian embassy is investigating the claim.
Here are some pictures of the blast site and the damage it caused to adjacent buildings. All images enlarge on click.
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A BMW damaged by the blast and resultant shrapnel awaits a tow-away. |
A senior security official (in white) checks in on the continuing investigation. |
A crane is moved in to remove the larger debris, as the site is excavated. |
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Damage to the front of a neighbor’s home where numerous windows were broken. |
Security and forensics officials continue to comb through the blast debris. |
A neighbor displays shrapnel found in the street after the blast. |
Update: Additional information on the blast, including claims of responsibility and details on the bomber and deceased have been determined. They are further expounded upon in a new post here.
natasha, I am happy to see that you are posting. our thoughts are with you, very sad that these acts have come to your city. it is hard to understand that an educated person could do something like this. i hope and pray that no more of these are committed, anywhere to anyone. peace to all, soon please.
Jeff and Natasha, glad you are ok. I remember that feeling of fear before the war when neighbors set our garden on fire and threw eggs and rocks at my kids. Even after we moved our car tire was slashed and our front window shot through. In Jordan, not far from your mom’s. Do be careful.
There was a larger than normal military pesence out yesterday in Amman, does anyone know why? The police had on their helmets and the jeeps had loaded machine guns aimed at the traffic.
Watching Egyptian media.
They are bending over backwards apologizing and blasting this Egyptian engineer. They keep saying the Egyptians in Qatar are law-abiding and love you, etc.
Can you imagine what would happen if Qatar kicked them out? Unlikly, but bad, bad, bad. Apparently, Egyptian security is saying this man had no connection with Al-Qaida or any religious extremist movement.
They claim he was recruited from abroad. However, they did no clarify.
I must say that was good reporting! This incident was more serious than I first thought.
Terrorism is like cancer. It’s starts small then spreads rapidly. Bombs do not discriminate between people, animals or property. Once a successful bombing occurs others will follow. I noticed the bomb did a lot of damage to surrounding property (imagine if a child was close to the blast). The terrorists tend to first target western people but when that is not possible they attack anyone they deem associated with westerners.
Who is next? Will it be the police? A politicians associated with the west? Or even the ruling leaders in Qatar? In the terrorist’s eyes they are all possible targets. Terrorism is an industry that feeds hatred and fear. Once the cycle of fear and hatred starts is difficult to stop.
metalordie,
I like your deep analysis, but not the language you chose to use sometimes.