BAGHDAD, Jan 22 (NNN-NINA) – A rare twin suicide bomb attacks in central Baghdad yesterday, killed up to 32 and wounded 110 others, breaking months of relative calm in the Iraqi capital, security sources and Iraqi Health Ministry said.
An Interior Ministry source said, a suicide bomber blew up his explosive belt in a crowded market in Bab al-Sharji area, and a second one detonated his a few minutes later in the same market.
Interior Ministry spokesman, Khalid al-Mahana said, the first suicide bomber blew up his explosive belt, in a bustling outdoor market for second-hand clothes in Bab al-Sharji area, after he claimed he was sick and people gathered to help him.
The second bomber detonated his explosive belt a few minutes later, in the same market, as people gathered to evacuate victims of the first blast, al-Mahana said.
Iraqi Health Minister, Hassan al-Tamimi, said that, Baghdad’s hospitals received 32 bodies, while 110 wounded people were admitted for treatment.
“Most of the wounded received treatment and left the hospitals, and only 36 remain for further treatment.”
Iraqi security forces cordoned off the area and blocked many streets leading to the scene, while ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals and medical centres.
Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces said, “Security forces have information about the suicide bombers and have been chasing them before the explosions, but it seems that this is what prompted them to quickly blow themselves up.”
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, chaired an emergency meeting with security and intelligence commanders at Baghdad Operations Command, to discuss the security breach.
Al-Kadhimi launched an investigation into the incident and ordered to hunt down terrorist cells that facilitated the arrival of the suicide bombers, the statement said.
He said, the attack on civilians “confirms the continuation of our war against terrorism and that there is no retreat in the fight to eliminate its remnants in every inch of Iraq.”
Al-Kadhimi pledged to make changes in the security forces, responsible for the security breach in Baghdad.
Iraqi President, Barham Salih said, the timing of these “terrorist attacks confirms the terrorist groups’ efforts to target the country’s major political steps,” referring to the country’s early elections, slated for Oct 10, 2021.
For his part, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein said, “The continuing regional tension affects the internal security situation in Iraq.”
He said, the extremist Daesh group “are actively moving in several areas, and the internal threat is still present.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the militants of the extremist Daesh group, in most cases, are responsible for such suicide attacks, targeting security forces and crowded areas, including markets, cafes, and mosques across Iraq.– NNN-NINA
