At least 119 people have been killed and nearly 190 people injured in suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in a crowded Baghdad shopping center, Iraqi police say.
The blast hit the central Karrada district in the early hours of July 3 when hundreds of people were out on the streets after breaking their dawn-to-dusk fast for the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.
Officials said most of the victims -- including many women and children -- were inside a multistory shopping and amusement mall, where dozens burned to death or suffocated.
The bombing in Karrada, a mainly Shi'ite area, is the deadliest in Iraq this year.
A second bomb also exploded at about midnight in Baghdad’s northern Shaab area, killing another five people.
The White House condemned the bombings, saying the attacks only strengthened the United States' resolve to confront IS.
"We remain united with the Iraqi people and government in our combined efforts to destroy ISIL," a White House statement said, referring to IS.
The U.S. State Department extended condolences to the victims of the two bombings and condemned acts of extremist violence.
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Church, Entire Village 'Erased' In Azerbaijan's Recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh
2Navalnaya Warns Of Putin's Willingness To Strike In Europe
3One Winner Of The Ukraine War Is Azerbaijan
4Iranian Commander Announces New Morality Enforcement Body
5Iran Disputes Reports Of First Delivery Of Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets
6Swiss Report Big Drop In Frozen Russian Assets
7Live Briefing: Russia Invades Ukraine
8Zelenskiy Says U.S. Breakthrough On Military Aid Gives Ukraine A 'Chance For Victory'
9On Genocide Remembrance Day, Armenians Told To 'Overcome Trauma' Of 1915 Mass Killings
10With New U.S. Aid, Ukraine Looks To Stabilize The Line, Seize The Initiative
Subscribe