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| Dozens killed in Baghdad bombings | Dozens killed in Baghdad bombings |
| (10 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, in a car, reportedly targeted a police vehicle in a square full of Shia labourers seeking work. | The first bomb, in a car, reportedly targeted a police vehicle in a square full of Shia labourers seeking work. |
| Shortly afterwards, a nearby suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed pick-up truck. Some reports said this was the only explosion in the square. | Shortly afterwards, a nearby suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed pick-up truck. Some reports said this was the only explosion in the square. |
| 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. | Gunfire could be heard immediately after the explosions but it is not clear if this was the work of insurgent snipers or police. |
| There was also confusion over the number of blasts. Some witnesses saying there were two explosions, others that there was just one. | There was also confusion over the number of blasts. Some witnesses saying there were two explosions, others that there was just one. |
| After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing, I thought everyone was dead Khaled NasserWitness href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6171631.stm" class="">Pictures from the blast | |
| Iraqi police say at least 150kg of explosives and ammunition were used in the latest attacks in central Baghdad's Tayaran Square. | 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. | 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. |
| Shortly afterwards the pick-up truck exploded in the crowd. | Shortly afterwards the pick-up truck exploded in the crowd. |
| Hospitals were crowded with victims of the bombings | Hospitals were crowded with victims of the bombings |
| Reports say the bomber tried to ensure the greatest number of casualties by attracting labourers to his vehicle with the promise of work. | Reports say 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |