Dozens of shoppers killed in Baghdad twin bombing
Dozens of shoppers killed in Baghdad twin bombing
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in a double bomb attack that struck a shopping mall in Baghdad on Friday night.
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A similar attack in July killed over 300 people [Getty]
At least 16 people were killed when two bombs rocked the Iraqi capital overnight, security and medical officials said on Saturday.
Dozens were wounded in the attack outside a shopping mall in central Baghdad, in the latest in a series of deadly attacks at Baghdad shopping centres this year, including one that killed more than 300 people in early July.
The first of the two explosions stemmed from a car parked on the side of a road while the other was caused by explosives-laden vehicle driven by a suicide bomber outside Nakheel Mall on Palestine Street in the city centre, a police source told The New Arab.
The bombing was most probably targeting shoppers preparing for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which falls on Monday.
The ministry confirmed people inside the mall were not affected by the blasts that took place in the shopping centre’s parking garage.
Iraqi media reported that security forces have locked down the mall while they clear the parameter for other explosive devices, in addition to cordoning off Palestine Street.
Earlier this week, at least 20 civilians were killed and 22 others were wounded in a suicide bombing targeting Baghdad’s busy Karrada shopping district.
The Islamic State group, who in July carried out a deadly bombing in the same area that killed over 300 people, claimed Tuesday night's attack.
IS has stepped up its terrorist operations as it goes on the defensive and loses territory to advancing government forces backed by a US-led coalition.
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