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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Suicide attack in Baghdad kills at least 38, wounds 105 | Suicide attack in Baghdad kills at least 38, wounds 105 |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two bombers attack Tayran Square, which is usually crowded with labourers seeking work | Two bombers attack Tayran Square, which is usually crowded with labourers seeking work |
| Kareem Shaheen and agencies in Baghdad | |
| Mon 15 Jan 2018 06.38 GMT | Mon 15 Jan 2018 06.38 GMT |
| Last modified on Mon 15 Jan 2018 11.53 GMT | |
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| Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up at a busy market in central Baghdad in back-to-back explosions that killed at least 38 people, Iraqi officials say. | Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up at a busy market in central Baghdad in back-to-back explosions that killed at least 38 people, Iraqi officials say. |
| The bombings were the most serious attacks in the capital since Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over Islamic State a little over a month ago, capping a three-year campaign to reclaim territory conquered by the terror group in Iraq. | |
| It raises questions on the government’s readiness to deal with the security challenges posed by the group’s retreat to its insurgent roots, and ahead of elections expected in May of this year. | |
| The attackers struck during rush hour on Monday morning in the city’s Tayran Square, which is usually crowded with labourers seeking work. The explosions also wounded at least 105 people, the officials said. | The attackers struck during rush hour on Monday morning in the city’s Tayran Square, which is usually crowded with labourers seeking work. The explosions also wounded at least 105 people, the officials said. |
| The death toll has grown since earlier reports from the health ministry, which said 26 people had been killed, and the interior ministry, which said 16 had died. Both said dozens had been wounded. | The death toll has grown since earlier reports from the health ministry, which said 26 people had been killed, and the interior ministry, which said 16 had died. Both said dozens had been wounded. |
| Ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces sealed off the area. Slippers could be seen scattered about on the blood-stained pavement as cleaners hurried to clear the debris. Photographs posted on social media showed dead bodies and body parts. | Ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces sealed off the area. Slippers could be seen scattered about on the blood-stained pavement as cleaners hurried to clear the debris. Photographs posted on social media showed dead bodies and body parts. |
| No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but it bore all the hallmarks of Islamic State, which has claimed many such atrocities in the past. | No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but it bore all the hallmarks of Islamic State, which has claimed many such atrocities in the past. |
| The explosions shocked residents as there have been significantly fewer large attacks in Baghdad and other parts of country since security forces retook nearly all territory once held by Isis militants. | The explosions shocked residents as there have been significantly fewer large attacks in Baghdad and other parts of country since security forces retook nearly all territory once held by Isis militants. |
| Iraqi and US officials had warned that Isis would continue with insurgent-style attacks even after the Iraqi military and US-led coalition succeeded in ousting the group across the country. | Iraqi and US officials had warned that Isis would continue with insurgent-style attacks even after the Iraqi military and US-led coalition succeeded in ousting the group across the country. |
| The cost of victory has been nearly incalculable as the three-year Isis insurgency devastated much of northern and western Iraq. | The cost of victory has been nearly incalculable as the three-year Isis insurgency devastated much of northern and western Iraq. |
| The bombings came a day after Prime Minister Abadi announced a new political coalition called the “Victory Alliance” that would contest the upcoming elections, and which includes groups close to Tehran. | |
| Iran commands great influence in Iraq through proxy militias that have taken part in the campaign against Isis, and which form the core of the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU), also known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, formed from volunteers after the initial Islamic State advance in 2014. | |
| Abadi is credited with leading Iraq and rebuilding the country’s military during three tumultuous years as premier, in which the government slowly clawed back major cities like Ramadi, Fallujah, Tikrit and Mosul from Isis. | |
| But now he faces great challenges in rebuilding the cities devastated in the military campaigns, ensuring that his government’s policies do not alienate the country’s Sunni minority, and addressing the central authorities’ relationship with the Kurds, who voted overwhelmingly last year for independence from Baghdad in a non-binding referendum. | |
| The bombings also highlight the difficulties the government will face in pacifying the Isis threat, despite battlefield victories. | |
| While the group has been ousted from its strongholds in much of Iraq and across the border in Syria, it can still launch devastating attacks on cities, capitalise on Sunni disenfranchisement, and ignite civil strife along sectarian lines in Iraq. | |
| Iraq | Iraq |
| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| news | news |
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