Two separate explosions hit Kirkuk, at least eight casualties reported

The two explosions occurred in different locations.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Two explosions rocked the city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, injuring at least eight people.

Afrasiyaw Kamil, the Director of Kirkuk Police, said the two explosions occurred in different locations.

Kamil told Sulaimani-based Xendan news outlet a car bomb caused one blast while a sticky-bomb was responsible for the other.

The Police Director did not reveal the number of casualties the attacks caused.

Meanwhile, al-Sumeriya quoted security sources who said the car bomb explosion happened in the Asra neighborhood, wounding at least three people.

Several security forces were deployed to the scene of the blast where they began their investigations, the sources added.

A different security source told Shafaaq News that a sticky-bomb exploded near a bus parking lot, wounding five people.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the incidents, Iraqi authorities point fingers to Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells which often carry out small-scale attacks, especially in the Kirkuk and Diyala provinces.

Despite Iraq’s declaration of a full victory over IS, the militant group continues to carry out insurgency-style attacks in several provinces across the country including in areas disputed between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany