AT least 38 people have died after two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a busy street market in central Baghdad.
The back-to-back explosions, which left another 105 people injured, mark the deadliest attack since last month’s declaration of victory over Daesh.
The bombings came just two days after a suicide bomber struck a police checkpoint in northern Baghdad, killing eight people there. No group has so far claimed responsibility for either attack but they bore all the hallmarks of Daesh, which has claimed many such attacks in the past.
The bombers struck during rush hour yesterday in the city’s Tayran Square. Ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces sealed off the area with yellow tape amid scenes of carnage.
The twin explosions shocked residents in the Iraqi capital because large-scale attacks had decreased significantly in Baghdad and other parts of country since security forces retook nearly all territory once held by Daesh militants.
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri denounced the attack as a “cowardly act against innocent people” and called on the government to take all necessary security measures.
Iraqi and US officials have warned Daesh would continue with insurgent-style attacks even after the Iraqi military and US-led coalition succeeded in uprooting Daesh across the country.
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