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| Dozens Killed in Wave of Attacks in Baghdad | Dozens Killed in Wave of Attacks in Baghdad |
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| BAGHDAD — A wave of apparently coordinated bombings at bakeries and public markets hit the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 37 people and wounding more than 80, many of them as they rushed to shop in a break during unusually heavy rainstorms, according to the police, residents and medical officials. | |
| Seven bombs detonated in Shiite Muslim neighborhoods and one in an area populated mainly by Sunnis, reflecting the protracted sectarian violence that has spiked since the American withdrawal in 2011 and raised concerns that Iraq was again locked into levels of strife not witnessed for years. | |
| One attack struck Shiite Muslims during religious observances of the month of Muharram requiring them to prepare food for the poor, witnesses said. | |
| The first bombing erupted near a bakery where people were buying bread for breakfast when a car bomb exploded, killing 3 civilians and wounded 13, the officials said, speaking in return for customary anonymity. That was followed by a rash of car bombings that tore through public markets in areas including Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold. | The first bombing erupted near a bakery where people were buying bread for breakfast when a car bomb exploded, killing 3 civilians and wounded 13, the officials said, speaking in return for customary anonymity. That was followed by a rash of car bombings that tore through public markets in areas including Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold. |
| In Adhamiya, a Sunni neighborhood north of Baghdad a bomb in a parked car exploded near a bakery, killing three people. | In Adhamiya, a Sunni neighborhood north of Baghdad a bomb in a parked car exploded near a bakery, killing three people. |
| The chaos left by the bombings was compounded by heavy rains and flooding that had forced the authorities to declare a public holiday and hampered ambulances trying to reach the sites of the explosions and ferry the wounded to hospitals for treatment. | The chaos left by the bombings was compounded by heavy rains and flooding that had forced the authorities to declare a public holiday and hampered ambulances trying to reach the sites of the explosions and ferry the wounded to hospitals for treatment. |
| As families shopped between storms, preparing for fresh downpours, Baghdad residents said, the car bombs went off between 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. | As families shopped between storms, preparing for fresh downpours, Baghdad residents said, the car bombs went off between 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. |
| “I just wanted to get breakfast for my kids,” said Muhsin Muntadhar, 45, who was wounded in his leg and back from an explosion at a bakery store. “I never did something bad in my life. What did we do to deserve this? I hope one day I wake up from this nightmare.” | “I just wanted to get breakfast for my kids,” said Muhsin Muntadhar, 45, who was wounded in his leg and back from an explosion at a bakery store. “I never did something bad in my life. What did we do to deserve this? I hope one day I wake up from this nightmare.” |
| No group immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, though in the past, the authorities have blamed Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda for similar attacks. | No group immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, though in the past, the authorities have blamed Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda for similar attacks. |
| But some Iraqis trace the growing violence to the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has intensified sectarian divisions between Sunnis supporting rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad and Shiites backing his government. | But some Iraqis trace the growing violence to the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has intensified sectarian divisions between Sunnis supporting rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad and Shiites backing his government. |
| In Iraq, major bombings have become almost routine, pushing the levels of violence to heights more usual five years ago, according to the United Nations, and reinforcing fears of a sustained revival of the sectarian warfare that seized the country in 2006 and 2007. | In Iraq, major bombings have become almost routine, pushing the levels of violence to heights more usual five years ago, according to the United Nations, and reinforcing fears of a sustained revival of the sectarian warfare that seized the country in 2006 and 2007. |
| The bloodletting has taken on broader regional overtones, with Shiite backers of Mr. Assad — notably Iran and its ally, the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah — drawn into the conflict while militant Sunnis, some linked to Al Qaeda, have flocked to the rebel cause in Syria, declaring jihad, or holy war, against their enemies. | The bloodletting has taken on broader regional overtones, with Shiite backers of Mr. Assad — notably Iran and its ally, the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah — drawn into the conflict while militant Sunnis, some linked to Al Qaeda, have flocked to the rebel cause in Syria, declaring jihad, or holy war, against their enemies. |
| Al Qaeda in Iraq, weakened during the final years of the American occupation, has rejuvenated and even expanded into Syria. | Al Qaeda in Iraq, weakened during the final years of the American occupation, has rejuvenated and even expanded into Syria. |
| On Tuesday, the regional repercussions intensified when twin bombings struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, killing 23 people including an Iranian diplomat, in what was seen as the most lethal strike against Tehran’s regional influence, striking at an emblem of its role in Lebanon and neighboring Syria. | On Tuesday, the regional repercussions intensified when twin bombings struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, killing 23 people including an Iranian diplomat, in what was seen as the most lethal strike against Tehran’s regional influence, striking at an emblem of its role in Lebanon and neighboring Syria. |
| Earlier this month, the Iraq Prime Minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki traveled to Washington to press President Obama for American help in fighting Al Qaeda terrorists in his country’s lawless west. | Earlier this month, the Iraq Prime Minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki traveled to Washington to press President Obama for American help in fighting Al Qaeda terrorists in his country’s lawless west. |
| Iraqi officials said the government was appealing for a range of aid, including helicopter gunships and missiles, along with American intelligence and other forms of counterterrorism support, like reconnaissance drones that would be operated by Americans. | Iraqi officials said the government was appealing for a range of aid, including helicopter gunships and missiles, along with American intelligence and other forms of counterterrorism support, like reconnaissance drones that would be operated by Americans. |
| The latest bombings in Baghdad came just days after explosions targeting public markets and security checkpoints killed 44 people across Iraq on Sunday, including 20 in a northern Turkmen-dominated city, and wounded over 100. | The latest bombings in Baghdad came just days after explosions targeting public markets and security checkpoints killed 44 people across Iraq on Sunday, including 20 in a northern Turkmen-dominated city, and wounded over 100. |
Duraid Adnan reported from Baghdad and Alan Cowell from London. | Duraid Adnan reported from Baghdad and Alan Cowell from London. |