Islamic State bombings in Baghdad kill at least 17 civilians, Iraq says - Los Angeles Times
Advertisement

Islamic State bombings in Baghdad kill at least 17 civilians, Iraq says

Iraqi security forces close the scene of a suicide bomb attack at a gathering of construction workers Tuesday in the eastern New Baghdad neighborhood of the capital.
Iraqi security forces close the scene of a suicide bomb attack at a gathering of construction workers Tuesday in the eastern New Baghdad neighborhood of the capital.
(Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Share via

Separate suicide bombings ripped through busy commercial areas in Shiite-dominated neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital on Tuesday, killing at least 17 civilians, officials said.

The deadliest attack took place in the eastern New Baghdad neighborhood, where a bomber approached a gathering of construction workers and set off his explosives-laden vest, killing 11 civilians, a police officer said. At least 28 civilians were wounded and the explosion damaged nearby shops and cars, he said.

Hours later, another suicide bomber blew himself up in an outdoor market in the southwestern neighborhood of Bayaa, killing six shoppers and wounding 21 others, another police officer said.

Advertisement

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release the information.

In online statements, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it targeted Shiite militia members. The Associated Press could not verify the authenticity of the statements, but they were posted on a militant website commonly used by the extremists.

The militants, who control parts of Iraq, have recently relied on insurgency-style attacks away from front lines as they suffer losses on the battlefields. The biggest urban area they control in Iraq is the country’s second-largest city of Mosul, about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. Iraqi officials have said they plan to retake the city by the end of the year.

Advertisement

ALSO

Colombia peace deal officially ends Western Hemisphere’s longest war

Secretary of State Kerry meets for the first time with firebrand president of Venezuela

Advertisement

It’s been two years since 43 Mexican students disappeared, and we still don’t know exactly what happened to them

Advertisement