38 killed in double suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad

Baghdad - The bombings came just two days after a suicide bomber struck a police checkpoint in northern Baghdad.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a busy street market in central Baghdad on Monday, in back-to-back explosions that killed at least 38 people, Iraqi health and police officials said — the deadliest attack since last month’s declaration of victory over the terrorist group Daesh.
The bombings came just two days after a suicide bomber struck a police checkpoint in northern Baghdad, killing eight people there.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for either attack but they bore all the hallmarks of Daesh, which has claimed many such attacks in the past.
 Monday’s bombers struck during rush hour in the city’s Tayran Square, which is usually crowded by labourers seeking work. The twin explosions also wounded at least 105 people, the officials said.
Ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces sealed off the area with yellow tape. Slippers could be seen scattered about on the blood-stained pavement as cleaners hurried to clear the debris. Photographs posted on social media showed lifeless bodies and pieces of limbs.
The twin explosions shocked residents in the Iraqi capital because large attacks had decreased significantly in Baghdad and other parts of country since security forces retook nearly all territory once held by Daesh militants.
Munthir Falah, a vendor who sells secondhand clothes at the street market, survived Monday’s attack with shrapnel injuries to his chest and right leg.
“It was a tremendous, I felt the ground shaking under my feet,” he described the explosions to AP. “I fell on the ground and lost consciousness to find myself later in the hospital.”
Falah, a father of three, blamed the government forces for not doing enough to secure the capital and its residents.
“They think that Daesh is done with the territorial losses and they do not bother themselves to exert efforts to secure Baghdad,” he said. Jalal Ali, owner of a mobile phone store, recounted how he saw bodies of some of those killed in the explosion lying on the street as he stepped off a minibus.
“Me and others on the bus were so shocked to see this,” said Ali, adding that he sought shelter between nearby cars and walls. He said he expected such attacks after the government announced national elections for May.
“I’m sure they will increase,” he said.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim Al Jabouri denounced the attack as a “cowardly act against innocent people” and called on the government to take all necessary security measures.
Iraqi and US officials have warned that Daesh would continue with insurgent-style attacks even after the Iraqi military and US-led coalition succeeded in uprooting Daesh across the country.
The cost of victory has been nearly incalculable as the three years of war against Daesh devastated much of northern and western Iraq — roughly a third of the country — where Daesh militants had held most of the territory.
Blasts bear hallmark of terrorist group Daesh
> The bombing is deadliest since last month’s declaration of victory over the terrorist group Daesh.
> No group claimed responsibility for either attack but they bore all the hallmarks of Daesh.
> The twin explosions shocked residents in the Iraqi capital because large attacks had decreased significantly in the country
> Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim Al Jabouri denounces the attack as a “cowardly act against innocent people” and called on the government to take all necessary security measures.

• MENA