Special to WorldTribune.com

BAGHDAD — Iraq, struck by the worst wave of suicide strikes in years, has been training civilians to detect car bombs and improvised explosive devices.

Officials said the Interior Ministry has launched courses for civilians and particularly businessmen in detecting and foiling suicide bombers.

The officials said Al Qaida focused on the use of suicide car bombers in the unprecedented wave of lethal attacks in 2013.

“The security forces need help from Iraqi citizens,” Maj. Gen. Saad Jaafar, deputy chief of Baghdad’s security command center, said.

The courses have focused on the use of security guards to prevent Al Qaida attacks in downtown Baghdad and other major cities. The Interior Ministry has urged cafes, a favorite of the suicide bombers, to deploy guards to prevent suspicious people and parked cars. So far, about 50 cafes, about half of them in Baghdad, have been bombed throughout Iraq since April 2013.

Jaafar urged owners to post two guards at the entrance to cafes and restaurants. He said these businesses should also close all but one of their doors.

Casualties from suicide bombers have reached up to 1,000 people a month. The Interior Ministry has urged businesses to install security cameras to monitor suspicious activity.

At a recent seminar, cafe owners said the ministry’s proposals would
hurt business. They cited a recommendation that cafes close at 8 p.m.

“They should post one or two guards and close all but one entrance to
control the flow of people and stop terrorists who wear explosives belts and
want to kill people in cold blood,” Jaafar said.

  000 per month, Baghdad, Iraq Interior Ministry, Iraq trains civilians to detect IEDs as casualties from terror attacks reaches 1, Maj. Gen. Saad Jaafar