A powerful truck bomb blast has hit the Shia-dominated Sadr-City district of the Iraqi capital, killing at least 76 and injuring more than 200 people. Islamic State fighters claimed responsibility for the explosion.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Photo: AP
There are conflicting reports on the number of casualties. The blast happened in the Jameela market, two police officials told AP.
At least 54 were dead and 86 wounded, according to a report by AP, while Agence France-Presse said that at least 33 people have been killed in the explosions.
It is still unclear as to how many people are dead from the powerful truck blast. Photo: AP
Reuters has given the highest numbers of casualties so far, at 76 dead and 200 injured.
The bomb was tucked inside a truck which blew up in the Jamila market in Baghdad’s Sadr City district. Muhsin al-Saedi, a police spokesman said: “A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up inside Jamila market at around 6 am (03:00 GMT).
A security camera revealed the magnitude of the blast.
“Many people were killed and body parts were thrown on top of nearby buildings.”
The food market in the northeastern suburb is one of the biggest in Baghdad.
Rescue operations are still on at the site of the blast. Photo: Reuters
A mob reportedly gathered at the site of the explosion, some crying and shouting the names of their missing relatives and others cursing the government.
People evacuate the body of a victim killed from a bombing in Jameela market in the Iraqi capital’s crowded Sadr City neighborhood Baghdad, Iraq. Photo: AP
Witness Ahmed Ali Ahmed said to Reuters: “We hold the government responsible, fully responsible.”
The attack regarded as one of the largest to hit Baghdad since Haider al-Abadi became prime minister a year ago.
As the blast burned much of the market, rescuers pulled bodies from the rubble, leaving charred wooden market stalls and scattered fruit and vegetables across the ground. At least 200 people were wounded and taken to local hospitals in ambulances or their own cars.
A statement posted online informed that Islamic State said it had targeted the army and militia fighters in the Shi’ite neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, ISIS has unveiled a chilling new map of Africa and Europe, as it plans for world’s domination by 2020.
According to the map, the terrorists aim to control the Middle East, Africa abovethe equator and vast areas of Europe and Asia within the next five years. Part of the Nigerian territory will belong to Maghreb, while a bigger part – to ‘the Land of Habasha’.
Parts of Spain, Portugal and France that ISIS want to control, would be named Andalus.
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