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Iraq: dozens killed as suicide car bomb hits Baghdad cafe Iraq: dozens killed as suicide car bomb hits Baghdad cafe
(about 4 hours later)
A suicide bomber drove a car into a busy cafe in Baghdad on Sunday night, during a day of violence across Iraq that left at least 40 dead. The man rammed his explosive-laden car into the cafe in Amil, a primarily Shia area, killing at least 28 people and wounding 45 others, police said. A suicide bomber drove a minibus into a busy cafe in Baghdad on Sunday night, during a day of violence that left at least 45 dead across Iraq.
The man rammed his vehicle into the cafe in Amil, a primarily Shia area, killing at least 35 people and wounding 45 others, police said.
Ali Mahdi, a policeman whose patrol was stationed nearby, said: "The cafe was full of people watching a soccer game and others smoking shisha (water pipe) when a minibus drove over the pavement and exploded right at the entrance to the cafe.
"At first people in the cafe thought it was a drunk driver, until the blast tore them apart, covering the ground with chunks of human flesh and severed limbs."
The cafe and a nearby juice shop is a favourite hang out in the neighbourhood for young people, who filled the area at the time of the explosions.The cafe and a nearby juice shop is a favourite hang out in the neighbourhood for young people, who filled the area at the time of the explosions.
In a village north of Baghdad, a car bomb targeted a police officer's house, killing his father, brother and five nephews, officials said. Six others were wounded in the blast, which happened when the officer was not at home.In a village north of Baghdad, a car bomb targeted a police officer's house, killing his father, brother and five nephews, officials said. Six others were wounded in the blast, which happened when the officer was not at home.
Security forces foiled an attack on the local council of the western town of Rawah by five would-be suicide bombers disguised in police uniforms, said Muthana Ismail, head of the local security committee. Ismail said two attackers were shot and the rest blew up themselves up outside. Two police officers and an official were killed, while 20 people were wounded, he said. Security forces foiled an attack on the local council of the western town of Rawah by five would-be suicide bombers disguised in police uniforms, said Muthana Ismail, head of the local security committee. Ismail said two attackers were shot and the rest blew up themselves up outside. Two police officers and an official were killed and 20 people were wounded, he said.
Another bomber hit a busy street in the northern city of Samarra.
On the southern outskirts of the city, 100 km north of Baghdad, a suicide car bomber drove up to a group of people who had gathered at the scene of an earlier, smaller explosion close to the house of senior police officer Nasser Dawood.
He was away when the bomber set off his explosives. Most of the six people killed in the blast were members of his family.
Violence has been on the rise in Iraq after a deadly crackdown by security forces on a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawijah in April. At least 385 have died in attacks in Iraq so far this month, according to Associated Press.Violence has been on the rise in Iraq after a deadly crackdown by security forces on a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawijah in April. At least 385 have died in attacks in Iraq so far this month, according to Associated Press.
Places such as cafes, markets and mosques are favourite targets for insurgents.Places such as cafes, markets and mosques are favourite targets for insurgents.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attacks, though car bombings and gun assaults are favorite tactics of al-Qaida's local branch. It frequently targets Shia Muslims, whom it considers heretics, and those seen as closely allied to the Shia-led government in Baghdad.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attacks, though car bombings and gun assaults are favorite tactics of al-Qaida's local branch. It frequently targets Shia Muslims, whom it considers heretics, and those seen as closely allied to the Shia-led government in Baghdad.
Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures for all attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to journalists.Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures for all attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to journalists.
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