Explosion hits southern Kirkuk’s Daquq district, injures two

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A roadside bomb went off in the district of Daquq, south of Kirkuk Province,  wounding two people on Friday.

A Kurdistan 24 Correspondent said the explosion was carried on a motorcycle.

The suicide bomber was planning to carry out an attack in the district which is home to many religious shrines, a security source said, stating the blast injured two people.

Kirkuk has been under the control of the Iraqi forces and the Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia since Oct. 16. The province is home to Kurds, Turkmens, Arabs, and Christians.

Photos posted on social media show the site of the explosion, where a body can be seen lying next to a small motorcycle. It was unclear whether the body belonged to a civilian or a suicide bomber.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The security situation in Daquq in particular, and Kirkuk in general, has deteriorated since the Iraqi forces and the Shia militias took over the area.

On Friday early morning, a fire broke out inside a military base where Iraqi troops are stationed, on the outskirts of Kirkuk.

Editing by Nadia Riva