More than 100 people, including several senior leaders in both parties, were killed in the 10:45 a.m. attack. Kurdish groups blamed the bombings on Islamist extremist groups based in northern Iraq who oppose the secular Kurdish political groups.
Nader and Haymin Mohamed Salih were cameramen covering the festivities for Qulan TV, which is run by KDP. Mohamed and Gharib Mohamed Salih were freelance cameramen covering the event for Kurdistan TV, which is also run by the KDP. Mohyideen was a freelance cameraman hired by the KDP to film the occasion. Abdel Karim was a freelance photographer working for the Arabic-language daily Al-Ta'akhy.