Al-Qaida video shows attack preparations

'Martyrdom seekers' glorified in hotel suicide bombings

Videotape footage posted on the Internet purportedly by the terrorist group al-Qaida in Iraq glorifies three suicide bombers involved in the Oct. 24 attack at two Baghdad hotels and provides a behind-the-scenes look at preparations.

The bombing itself, which killed 17 Iraqis and wounded nine, is shown in the footage posted Saturday, titled "Badr Raid," after a famous victory by Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Excerpts of the video, along with translations into English, are provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute's MEMRI TV.

A religious song is heard in the background as images of the "martyrs" appear on the screen, overlaid on pictures of the Palestine and Sheraton hotels, gathering places for foreign contractors and journalists.

Then the hand of a "military commander" is seen pointing on a screen in which a surveillance video is playing. The commander is heard giving instructions to the "martyrdom seekers," who are identified by a nom de guerre:


"This is the gas station where brothers Abu Juheiman and Abu Dahham should stop. They should stop by the gas station in order to avoid attracting attention. Brother Abu Naim should move forward with the Hyundai car. He should keep moving forward. ... He should take the right lane towards Firdaus Square. He should keep in the right lane, in order to have a good angle. He keeps moving ... good."
The video shows Abu Naim walking toward a Honda van he drove in the attack and Abu Dahham driving a cement-mixer truck.

The commander says:


"Here you can see the Ishtar Sheraton Hotel, which will be targeted by our brother Abu Dahham, with the cement-mixer, loaded with the larger amount of explosives. It will turn left, and, Allah willing, when he enters this way, his distance from the target will not exceed 20 meters. I pray to Allah for our success."
Later, Abu Dahham is shown on camera, saying:


"I proclaim that the Armies Of Truth have arrived, and they are wreaking havoc upon the apostates and Americans. To my family I say � rejoice. By Allah, I have never been as happy as I a today. Blessed be He who, in this blessed month... Blessed be He who gave me this operation on this blessed month. I pray to Allah that I can recommend you on Judgment Day. Blessings upon Allah, Lord of the world."
In the final scene, a subtitle in Arabic says "the holy warriors are watching the execution of the raid."

Voices are heard shouting "Allah u-Akbar," or "Allah is Greatest," as a massive cloud of smoke rises on a television screen.