Published On:Sunday, 1 January 2017
Posted by ARAB GAZETTE. weekly newspaper issued on Sunday morning - London, UNITED KINGDOMمؤسسة الوطن العربى الإعلامية - لندن ، المملكة المتحدة . WA MEDIA FOUNDATION - LONDON, UK
Iraq: Twin Explosions in Baghdad Kill at Least 30
Iraq: Twin Explosions in Baghdad Kill at Least 30
ARAB GAZETTE - Baghdad
Two bombs exploded in al-Sinek crowded market area in central Baghdad on Saturday causing the death of at least 30 people.
ISIS terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the deadliest attacks since mid-October in a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, confirming that “Abo Nawwaf al-Iraqi” and “Abo Abdul Malek al-Iraqi” were the suicide bombers who executed the blasts.
The two bombers blew themselves in the busy market area, police said.
The attack occurred when citizens were expected to gather on Saturday evening in the streets of Baghdad to celebrate New Year despite the sensitive security situation.
Torn clothes and mangled iron were strewn across the ground in pools of blood at the site of the wreckage near Rasheed street, one of the main thoroughfares in Baghdad, AFP reported.
A police colonel said there are at least 27 people killed and 53 wounded, and a hospital official confirmed the toll from the attack.
“Many of the victims were people from the spare parts shops in the area, they were gathered near a cart selling breakfast when the explosions went off,” said Ibrahim Mohammed Ali, who owns a nearby shop.
Also, Baghdad Operation Command announced on it had foiled a suicide car-bombing targeting district of Kadhimiyah in northern Baghdad.
“Acting on intelligence information, Iraqi forces in northern Baghdad tracked down a car bomb with two suicide bombers, who planned to detonate it in Kadhimiyah,” said Baghdad Operation Command in a statement.
The statement added that the forces ambushed the car, blew it up and killed the two bombers inside.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi expressed his fears on Saturday of the continuous attacks on civilians in cities and markets in vengeance following the victories in the battlefield against ISIS.
He called upon security forces asking for more vigilance and alert.
France’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing the heinous attack that killed dozens and injured many others. The spokesperson reiterated France’s support to Iraq against terrorism and said that France will continue to be part of the international coalition against ISIS.
Earlier in October, a massive attack hit Baghdad when a suicide bomber killed himself in a Shiite neighborhood during a memorial service killing at least 34 civilians.
The attack on New Year’s Eve reveals the fragile security situation in Iraq, even in the areas that are now under Iraqi forces’ control.
Last week, 23 persons were killed when three cars exploded in a market area in Gogjali, east of Mosul. Iraqi forces took control over Gogjali in November.
