Twin explosions kill, wound dozens in Baghdad, largest casualty since IS defeat
Dozens of people killed and wounded in two suicide explosions took place in the center of Iraq’s capital, security sources said on Monday.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Dozens of people were killed and wounded in a twin suicide bombing that took place in the center of Iraq’s capital, security sources said on Monday.
The attack came two days after a suicide bomber detonated himself in Aden Square, close to the mainly Shia district of Kadhimiya, north of Baghdad.
The blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers wearing explosive vests on Monday morning at a workers’ gathering, a security source told Kurdistan 24.
Iraqi Interior Ministry’s spokesman Saad Maan said in a statement that the twin bombing killed 16 people and wounded 65 others.
Witnesses said that the number of casualties is higher and that most of the victims were workers.
A health source told Kurdistan 24 that al-Kindi hospital had received eight dead and 40 injured, while Sheikh Zayed Hospital received 13 bodies and 26 injured.
The number of casualties often varies following explosions in Iraq, with officials preventing journalists from reaching the scene.
According to security sources, the number has risen to over 35 dead and more than 100 wounded.
Iraqi police cordoned off the scene, and ambulances were seen taking the injured to nearby hospitals.
Security forces cut off some of the main roads leading to the site of the explosions where black smoke rose.
No one has claimed responsibility for the twin attack, but the Islamic State (IS) has previously adopted similar bloody attacks in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.
In a statement, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Safeen Dizayee "strongly" condemned the terrorist attacks. He relayed the KRG's condolences to the families of the victims and wished for a speedy recovery for all those who were wounded in the blasts.
Editing by Nadia Riva