Accusations fly as Basra cafes hit by string of bombings
A series of bombings has hit Basra's cafes that employ women, leading activists to accuse Shiite militias of imposing an Islamization project on civilians.
BAGHDAD — Over the past few weeks, six bombings hit Basra cafes frequented by young people. Most recently, the Coffee Time cafe was targeted Aug. 17 on busy Algeria Street in central Basra. The bombings resulted in a young man's death and left others wounded, while the cafes were forced to close and lay off their staff.
Images captured by surveillance cameras are spread over social media. They clearly show individuals who planted the explosives and a car that belongs to one of the bombers.
Col. Louay Abdul-Amir of the Basra police told Al-Monitor that investigations are ongoing, noting that the police have arrested some suspects while others remain at large.
All six targeted cafes had hired female wait staff to attract customers, the first to do so in Basra in decades.
