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At least 45 killed in Baghdad market car bomb attack At least 52 killed in Baghdad market car bomb attack
(35 minutes later)
A car bomb has ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad, killing at least 45 people and wounding dozens in an attack swiftly claimed by Islamic State. A car bomb has ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad, killing at least 52 people and wounding 78 others in an attack swiftly claimed by Islamic State.
Shortly after the explosion, one of the deadliest recently in the Iraqi capital, the Sunni extremist group said it was responsible. Isis said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that. Shortly after the explosion, one of the deadliest in the Iraqi capital for months, the Sunni extremist group said it was responsible. Isis said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that.
The bombing showed that Isis is still capable of launching significant attacks across the country despite a number of territorial defeats in the past year. It has recently stepped up assaults inside Baghdad, something officials say is an attempt to distract from the recent battlefield defeats. A pickup truck packed with explosives went off at rush hour near a beauty salon in a bustling outdoor market in the Sadr City district. Many of the victims were women, including several brides who appeared to be getting ready for their weddings, police and hospital sources told Reuters.
The bodies of two men said to be grooms were found in an adjacent barber shop. Wigs, shoes and children’s toys were scattered on the ground outside. At least two cars were destroyed in the explosion, their parts scattered far from the blast site.
Related: Mosul: suspicion and hostility cloud fight to recapture Iraqi city from IsisRelated: Mosul: suspicion and hostility cloud fight to recapture Iraqi city from Isis
Wednesday’s bomb struck a crowded outdoor market in Baghdad’s eastern district of Sadr City, two police officials said, adding that the blast also wounded up to 65 people, several seriously, prompting fears the death toll could rise further. Security has gradually improved in the Iraqi capital, which was the target of daily bombings a decade ago, but violence directed against the security forces and Shia civilians is still frequent.
Ambulances rushed to the scene, where dozens of residents walked through the twisted and mangled wreckage of cars and other debris that littered the pavement, trying to help the victims. The street was stained red with blood in many places and front-side facades of several buildings were heavily damaged. Smoke billowed from ground-level stores gutted out by the explosion. The bombing also showed that Isis was still capable of launching significant attacks across the country despite a number of territorial defeats in the past year. It has recently stepped up assaults inside Baghdad, something officials say is an attempt to distract from the recent battlefield defeats.
Karim Salih, a 45-year old grocer, said the bomb was in a pickup truck loaded with fruits and vegetables that was parked by a man who quickly disappeared among the crowds of people. Ambulances rushed to the scene, where dozens of residents walked through the twisted and mangled wreckage of cars and other debris that littered the pavement, trying to help the victims.
“It was such a thunderous explosion that jolted the ground,” Salih said. Rescuers stepped through puddles of blood to put out fires and remove victims. Smoke was still rising from several shops hours after the explosion as a bulldozer cleared the burnt-out chassis of the vehicle used in the blast.
“The force of the explosion threw me metres away and I lost conscious for a few minutes,” the merchant added. He suffered no injuries, but two of his workers were wounded. Karim Salih, a 45-year-old grocer, said the pickup truck was parked by a man who quickly disappeared among the crowds of people.
Four medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. “The force of the explosion threw me metres away and I lost conscious for a few minutes,” Salih said. He suffered no injuries, but two of his workers were wounded.
In its online statement, Isis said it had carried out a suicide attack that targeted a gathering of Shia militiamen.In its online statement, Isis said it had carried out a suicide attack that targeted a gathering of Shia militiamen.
Isis controls significant territory in northern and western Iraq, including Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul. Commercial and public places in Shia-dominated areas are among the most frequent targets for its militants seeking to undermine Iraqi government efforts to maintain security inside the capital. Isis controls significant territory in northern and western Iraq, including the country’s second-largest city, Mosul. Commercial and public places in Shia-dominated areas are among the most frequent targets for its militants seeking to undermine government efforts to maintain security inside the capital.
In February, the group carried out devastating back-to-back market bombings in Sadr City, the stronghold of followers of an influential Shia cleric. That attack killed at least 73 people.In February, the group carried out devastating back-to-back market bombings in Sadr City, the stronghold of followers of an influential Shia cleric. That attack killed at least 73 people.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report