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Iraq violence: Car bomb kills scores in mainly Shia town | Iraq violence: Car bomb kills scores in mainly Shia town |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A car bomb has killed 120 people and injured at least 130 at a busy market in an Iraqi town, officials have said. | A car bomb has killed 120 people and injured at least 130 at a busy market in an Iraqi town, officials have said. |
The attack happened in the predominantly Shia town of Khan Bani Saad, north of the capital Baghdad. | The attack happened in the predominantly Shia town of Khan Bani Saad, north of the capital Baghdad. |
Children were among those dead in the explosion, which came as people celebrated the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. | Children were among those dead in the explosion, which came as people celebrated the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. |
The Islamic State (IS) group, which control swathes of the country, has said it was behind the attack. | The Islamic State (IS) group, which control swathes of the country, has said it was behind the attack. |
A statement from the group said one of its members drove three tonnes of explosives into a crowd. | A statement from the group said one of its members drove three tonnes of explosives into a crowd. |
Correspondents say that it was one of the deadliest single attacks in Iraq over the last 10 years and completely destroyed several buildings. | |
Police major Ahmed al-Tamimi told Reuters the damage was "devastating". | Police major Ahmed al-Tamimi told Reuters the damage was "devastating". |
"Some people were using vegetable boxes to collect children's body parts," he said. | "Some people were using vegetable boxes to collect children's body parts," he said. |
Diyala resident Sayif Ali told the AP news that Khan Beni Saad has become a disaster area as its residents continued to search for bodies. | |
Meanwhile Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri said on Saturday that the attack has revealed an "ugly sectarian chord" and that the government was doing all it could to stop IS from further destabilising Diyala. | |
The Diyala provincial authorities have declared three days of mourning and cancelled festivities for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. | The Diyala provincial authorities have declared three days of mourning and cancelled festivities for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. |
IS militants are battling government forces in the north and west of the country. | IS militants are battling government forces in the north and west of the country. |
The group captured parts of Diyala last year. Although IS was later driven out, it still has a presence there. | The group captured parts of Diyala last year. Although IS was later driven out, it still has a presence there. |