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Over 80 killed, scores injured as two blasts rock Baghdad (PHOTOS, VIDEO) Some 80 people killed, 160 injured as two blasts rock Baghdad market areas (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
(35 minutes later)
Two blasts have ripped through busy market areas in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing some 80 people and injuring dozens of others. The explosions targeted the Karrada and Sha'ab districts. Two blasts have ripped through busy market areas in the Karrada and Sha’ab districts of Baghdad, Iraq’s capital, killing around 80 people and injuring 160. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The explosion in Karrada killed about 80 people, police and medics said, as quoted by Reuters.  The explosions killed 80 people, Reuters reports, citing police and medics.
Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan confirmed that the first attack was a car bomb. Iraqi officials quoted by AP put the death toll at 78 and said 160 people were injured.
Eyewitnesses said on Twitter that many shops burned down in the explosion. There are also fears the number of casualties could grow. Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan confirmed that the first blast had come from a car bomb.
Karrada, the upper middle class district of the Iraqi capital, is mostly inhabited by Shia but also has quite a large Christian minority. The area gets really busy after sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Eyewitnesses said on Twitter that many shops burned down as a result of the explosions, and there are fears that the number of casualties could grow.
Shortly after the explosion hit Karrada, eyewitnesses said there was a second blast that targeted the Shaab neighborhood, located in the northern part of the city. Karrada, an upper middle class district in the Iraqi capital, is mostly inhabited by Shia, but also has quite a large Christian minority. The area becomes very busy after sunset during the holy month of Ramadan.
AP said that at least five people were killed in this explosion and another 16 were injured. Meanwhile, Sky News Arabia said a suspected homemade explosive device was used to hit a market. Shortly after the explosion hit Karrada, eyewitnesses said that a second blast targeted the Shaab neighborhood, which is located in the northern part of the city.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Karrada, Baghdad, BNO News reported. AP said that at least five people were killed in that bombing and another 16 were injured. Meanwhile, Sky News Arabia said a suspected homemade explosive device was used to hit a market.
The tactics also resemble Islamic State's signature, as the terrorists frequently choose Shia-populated civilian areas in the capital as their targets. Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has claimed responsibility for the attack in Karrada, Baghdad, BNO News reported.
Iraqi security officials are attempting to restore control amid the state of panic existing following the attacks, Altaf Ahmad, a local journalist, told RT. The tactics resemble Islamic State’s signature, as the terrorists frequently choose Shia-populated civilian areas in the capital as targets.
“Major roads leading to the venue of the explosion [in Karrada] have been cut off. We know that the car bomb that went off in the area that is known to be crowded at this time. After sunset, after the break of fast during the holy month of Ramadan many people start to go out . . . We are expecting that the number could rise to 100 casualties,” Ahmad said. Iraqi security officials are attempting to restore order amid the state of panic that has followed the attacks, Altaf Ahmad, a local journalist, told RT.
“Major roads leading to the venue of the explosion [in Karrada] have been cut off. We know that the car bomb that went off in the area that is known to be crowded at this time. After sunset, after the break of fast during the holy month of Ramadan many people start to go out... We are expecting that the number could rise to 100 casualties,” Ahmad said.
Meanwhile, Abayomi Azikiwe, editor at Pan-African News Wire, said the pattern of bombing in Baghdad reminded of what happened in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Abayomi Azikiwe, editor at Pan-African News Wire, said the pattern of bombing in Baghdad reminded him of what happened in Istanbul.
“There is some affirmation that Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. This follows a pattern for the last week with the attack in Istanbul. The sectarian divisions inside the country have exacerbated and there’s been a reaction on both sides,” Azikiwe told RT.“There is some affirmation that Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. This follows a pattern for the last week with the attack in Istanbul. The sectarian divisions inside the country have exacerbated and there’s been a reaction on both sides,” Azikiwe told RT.
He also noted that Islamic State suffered tremendous losses over the last several months and could be pursuing such attacks in order to avenge their retreat. He also noted that Islamic State had suffered tremendous losses over the past several months and could be committing such attacks in order to avenge their retreat.
“They moved to other geopolitical regions, in Libya, for example, in western part of the country. A lot of these attacks are done for propaganda reasons,” he added. “[These attacks] definitely appear to be coordinated.”“They moved to other geopolitical regions, in Libya, for example, in western part of the country. A lot of these attacks are done for propaganda reasons,” he added. “[These attacks] definitely appear to be coordinated.”
Earlier this week, a suicide attack west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killed at least 12 people and injured another 32. An attacker wearing a suicide vest targeted a Sunni mosque in Abu Ghraib.  Earlier this week, at least 12 people were killed and 32 injured in another suicide attack west of Baghdad, where an attacker wearing a suicide vest targeted a Sunni mosque in Abu Ghraib. 
READ MORE: At least 12 killed in suicide attack on Abu Ghraib mosqueREAD MORE: At least 12 killed in suicide attack on Abu Ghraib mosque
Islamic State recently suffered ground losses, as it was pushed out of Fallujah by Iraqi forces. However, the terrorist group still controls Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, located in northern Iraq. Islamic State was recently pushed out of Fallujah by Iraqi forces, but the terrorist group still controls Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, which is located in northern Iraq.