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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Deadly bombs hit central Baghdad | Deadly bombs hit central Baghdad |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 54 people have been killed by two bomb attacks in a shopping area in the centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, security officials say. | |
| The blasts in the Karada district left another 130 people injured. | |
| A witness at the scene described people holding body parts and a woman crying as rescuers searched for her sons. | A witness at the scene described people holding body parts and a woman crying as rescuers searched for her sons. |
| Iraqi government figures this week showed that the number of Iraqi civilians killed in February was a third higher than in January. | Iraqi government figures this week showed that the number of Iraqi civilians killed in February was a third higher than in January. |
| It reversed six months of falling death tolls attributed to a surge in US troop numbers, the formation of anti-al-Qaeda militias by Sunni Arab tribes and a freeze in activities of the Mehdi Army militia loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. | It reversed six months of falling death tolls attributed to a surge in US troop numbers, the formation of anti-al-Qaeda militias by Sunni Arab tribes and a freeze in activities of the Mehdi Army militia loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. |
| Teenagers | Teenagers |
| Thursday's blasts occurred within a few minutes of each other, police said. | Thursday's blasts occurred within a few minutes of each other, police said. |
| Karada is a popular shopping area in central BaghdadA roadside bomb exploded first in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood, which was followed a few minutes later by a bomb in a nearby rubbish bin, the Associated Press news agency reported, citing police and hospital officials. | Karada is a popular shopping area in central BaghdadA roadside bomb exploded first in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood, which was followed a few minutes later by a bomb in a nearby rubbish bin, the Associated Press news agency reported, citing police and hospital officials. |
| Many of the victims were reported to be teenagers and young adults. | Many of the victims were reported to be teenagers and young adults. |
| Hassan Abdullah, 25, told AP he was standing near the clothing shop he owns when the first explosion went off about 150 metres away. | Hassan Abdullah, 25, told AP he was standing near the clothing shop he owns when the first explosion went off about 150 metres away. |
| He was walking towards the scene when the second explosion struck. | He was walking towards the scene when the second explosion struck. |
| "I saw a leg and a hand falling near me as I was walking. The whole place was a mess," he said. | "I saw a leg and a hand falling near me as I was walking. The whole place was a mess," he said. |
| "Wounded people were crying for help and people started to run away." | "Wounded people were crying for help and people started to run away." |