Pentagon: Insurgents Used Children To Carry Out A Suicide Car

PENTAGON (AP) -- Pentagon officials say Iraqi insurgents appear to have adopted a disturbing new tactic since the start of a security crackdown.<br/><br/>Major General Michael Barbero told reporters a

Tuesday, March 20th 2007, 8:14 pm

By: News On 6

PENTAGON (AP) -- Pentagon officials say Iraqi insurgents appear to have adopted a disturbing new tactic since the start of a security crackdown.

Major General Michael Barbero told reporters a vehicle was waved through a U-S military checkpoint because two children were visible in the back seat.

Barbero says the presence of the children "lowered suspicion." He says the adults of the car parked the vehicle, ran off and detonated a bomb with the children still inside.

Other officials said later that three Iraqi bystanders were killed in the attack near a marketplace in northern Baghdad, in addition to the two children. Seven people were injured. The officials had no other details, including the estimated ages of the
children.

Barbero said this was the first reported use of children in a suicide car bombing in Baghdad.