dwasson
05-25-2006, 08:46 AM
From: http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1478650,00.html
Opel sales exploding in Iraq
04/02/2004 10:21 - (SA)
Baghdad - Known across Europe as a rather mundane German car, beloved of businessmen and unadventurous families, the Opel has a dangerous new image in Iraq as the vehicle of choice for rebels mounting deadly attacks on US soldiers, Iraqi police and civilians.
In the daily gunfights, suicide bombings and drive-by shootings which have accompanied the US-led occupation of Iraq, Opels are again and again identified playing a crucial role.
On Saturday, witnesses in the northern city of Mosul identified as an Opel a car which smashed through security barriers outside a police station to explode, killing nine Iraqis and injuring 45 others.
Four days earlier, gunmen in a rust-coloured Opel opened fire on a CNN news crew on the outskirts of Baghdad, killing two staff and grazing a cameraman on the head.
And on January 22, when attackers sprayed a minibus killing five Christian laundry women on their way to work at a US military base at Habbaniyah, near the rebel flashpoint town of Fallujah, they made their getaway in... an Opel.
51 of 63 attacks
In the northern oil centre of Kirkuk, the scene of 63 attacks against the police in the past six months, 51 involved Opel cars, Kirkuk police chief General Turhan Yusef said.
"Fifteen policemen have been killed and 53 injured during these attacks," he said. 42 of 63 attacks
Police in Mosul say their statistics show that out of 63 deadly guerrilla attacks logged in the past 10 months, 42 involved Opels, compared to seven using BMWs, 13 Volkswagens and just one Japanese car.
"The speed of the car and also the sliding roof feature in some models are all important elements of why the resistance prefers Opels," said Mosul police chief General Hekmat Mohammad.
"Also, because there are so many of them, it is easy for them to escape unnoticed."
In Baghdad's Habibia second hand car district, dealers also identified the Opel's key selling points for insurgents.
"The cars are strong, fast and inexpensive," said dealer Abdul Sadher Hamid al-Hashim, selling a 1991 Black Opel Omega for the knock-down price of $2 300 (R16 000).
"But because all of them are new in Iraq, they are not listed on any computers and so they're difficult to trace," Hashim said, adding that he had been in trouble for selling an Opel he later discovered was stolen.
Fellow dealer Mohammed Shabith said Opels accounted for 80% of his trade, but was less convinced of their appeal to guerrillas.
"Sure, it's a strong, fast and cheap car, but with the money these people get paid for the attacks, they don't care about cost."
A spokesperson for Opel said it would be inappropriate to comment.
But for one resident of Fallujah, where police say Opels are also a favourite with ordinary thieves, there was no doubt.
"I'm going to sell my Opel, I'm sick and tired of being pulled over by the police looking for terrorists," he said, asking not to be named.
Opel sales exploding in Iraq
04/02/2004 10:21 - (SA)
Baghdad - Known across Europe as a rather mundane German car, beloved of businessmen and unadventurous families, the Opel has a dangerous new image in Iraq as the vehicle of choice for rebels mounting deadly attacks on US soldiers, Iraqi police and civilians.
In the daily gunfights, suicide bombings and drive-by shootings which have accompanied the US-led occupation of Iraq, Opels are again and again identified playing a crucial role.
On Saturday, witnesses in the northern city of Mosul identified as an Opel a car which smashed through security barriers outside a police station to explode, killing nine Iraqis and injuring 45 others.
Four days earlier, gunmen in a rust-coloured Opel opened fire on a CNN news crew on the outskirts of Baghdad, killing two staff and grazing a cameraman on the head.
And on January 22, when attackers sprayed a minibus killing five Christian laundry women on their way to work at a US military base at Habbaniyah, near the rebel flashpoint town of Fallujah, they made their getaway in... an Opel.
51 of 63 attacks
In the northern oil centre of Kirkuk, the scene of 63 attacks against the police in the past six months, 51 involved Opel cars, Kirkuk police chief General Turhan Yusef said.
"Fifteen policemen have been killed and 53 injured during these attacks," he said. 42 of 63 attacks
Police in Mosul say their statistics show that out of 63 deadly guerrilla attacks logged in the past 10 months, 42 involved Opels, compared to seven using BMWs, 13 Volkswagens and just one Japanese car.
"The speed of the car and also the sliding roof feature in some models are all important elements of why the resistance prefers Opels," said Mosul police chief General Hekmat Mohammad.
"Also, because there are so many of them, it is easy for them to escape unnoticed."
In Baghdad's Habibia second hand car district, dealers also identified the Opel's key selling points for insurgents.
"The cars are strong, fast and inexpensive," said dealer Abdul Sadher Hamid al-Hashim, selling a 1991 Black Opel Omega for the knock-down price of $2 300 (R16 000).
"But because all of them are new in Iraq, they are not listed on any computers and so they're difficult to trace," Hashim said, adding that he had been in trouble for selling an Opel he later discovered was stolen.
Fellow dealer Mohammed Shabith said Opels accounted for 80% of his trade, but was less convinced of their appeal to guerrillas.
"Sure, it's a strong, fast and cheap car, but with the money these people get paid for the attacks, they don't care about cost."
A spokesperson for Opel said it would be inappropriate to comment.
But for one resident of Fallujah, where police say Opels are also a favourite with ordinary thieves, there was no doubt.
"I'm going to sell my Opel, I'm sick and tired of being pulled over by the police looking for terrorists," he said, asking not to be named.