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Dozens killed in Baghdad bombings | |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 57 people have been killed and 148 hurt in two near-simultaneous bombings in a central Baghdad square. | At least 57 people have been killed and 148 hurt in two near-simultaneous bombings in a central Baghdad square. |
The first bomb, placed in a car, reportedly targeted a police patrol in a square frequented by Shia labourers. | The first bomb, placed in a car, reportedly targeted a police patrol in a square frequented by Shia labourers. |
Minutes later, a nearby suicide bomber detonated an explosive-packed pick-up truck after attracting day labourers with an offer of work. | Minutes later, a nearby suicide bomber detonated an explosive-packed pick-up truck after attracting day labourers with an offer of work. |
The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says this appears to be the latest violence in a spiral of sectarian attacks. | The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says this appears to be the latest violence in a spiral of sectarian attacks. |
Gunfire could be heard immediately after the explosions but it is not clear if this was the work of insurgent snipers or police. Smaller blasts were also heard later in the area. | Gunfire could be heard immediately after the explosions but it is not clear if this was the work of insurgent snipers or police. Smaller blasts were also heard later in the area. |
After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing, I thought everyone was dead Khaled NasserWitness | After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing, I thought everyone was dead Khaled NasserWitness |
Iraqi police say at least 150kg of explosives and ammunition were used in the latest attacks in central Baghdad's Tayaran Square. | |
The blasts happened at about 0700 (0400 GMT), at a time when the square was crowded with labourers looking for work. | |
'Bees to honey' | 'Bees to honey' |
It is unclear if the first explosion took place in a parked car or in a vehicle driven by a bomber that rammed a police patrol. | It is unclear if the first explosion took place in a parked car or in a vehicle driven by a bomber that rammed a police patrol. |
The AFP news agency quotes witnesses as saying the first explosion forced people to take shelter on the other side of the square. | The AFP news agency quotes witnesses as saying the first explosion forced people to take shelter on the other side of the square. |
Minutes later, the pick-up truck exploded in the crowd. | Minutes later, the pick-up truck exploded in the crowd. |
Hospitals were crowded with victims of the bombings | |
The bomber tried to ensure the greatest number of casualties by attracting labourers to his vehicle with the promise of work. | The bomber tried to ensure the greatest number of casualties by attracting labourers to his vehicle with the promise of work. |
"After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing, I thought everyone was dead," Khaled Nasser, a labourer, told the AFP news agency. | "After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing, I thought everyone was dead," Khaled Nasser, a labourer, told the AFP news agency. |
He said his friends were "all cut in half, no legs, and for some I could only find their heads". | He said his friends were "all cut in half, no legs, and for some I could only find their heads". |
Khalil Ibrahim, 41, a shop owner told the Associated Press news agency: "In the first explosion, I saw people falling over, some of them blown apart. | |
"When the other bomb went off seconds later, it slammed me into a wall of my store and I fainted." | "When the other bomb went off seconds later, it slammed me into a wall of my store and I fainted." |
Mangled bodies were piled up by the roadside, some of them covered with paper, AP reports. | |
Bloodied survivors were seen weeping or walking in a daze. Witnesses described thick, black smoke rising from the site. | |
Rising violence | Rising violence |
Tayaran square has been targeted by bombers before. It is located near several government ministries and a bridge which crosses the Tigris River to the heavily fortified Green Zone. | Tayaran square has been targeted by bombers before. It is located near several government ministries and a bridge which crosses the Tigris River to the heavily fortified Green Zone. |
The square is frequented by day labourers from the Shia suburb of Sadr City who gather there every day hoping to find work. | |
High unemployment and the collapse of Iraq's economy has increased the number of people dependent on such jobs. | |
Last month has seen some of the bloodiest sectarian violence in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. | |
While suicide bombings are the hallmark of the Sunni insurgency, Iraq's Shia militia groups have been blamed for operating death squads responsible for hundreds of abductions and executions. | While suicide bombings are the hallmark of the Sunni insurgency, Iraq's Shia militia groups have been blamed for operating death squads responsible for hundreds of abductions and executions. |