This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6418809.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Many dead in Baghdad market bomb | Many dead in Baghdad market bomb |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A suicide bomber has killed at least 26 people in the commercial centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. | A suicide bomber has killed at least 26 people in the commercial centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. |
The attack was near Mutanabbi Street, a busy district lined with book shops and open-air book stalls. | The attack was near Mutanabbi Street, a busy district lined with book shops and open-air book stalls. |
Witnesses said many shops were set on fire and more than a dozen cars were burnt out by the explosion. | Witnesses said many shops were set on fire and more than a dozen cars were burnt out by the explosion. |
Iraqi and US security forces are in the third week of a major operation to try to stem the violence in Baghdad, one of the worst hit parts of the country. | Iraqi and US security forces are in the third week of a major operation to try to stem the violence in Baghdad, one of the worst hit parts of the country. |
The blast was the first major attack in Baghdad for several days and the most deadly since a female suicide bomber killed 40 people at a Baghdad college on 25 February. | The blast was the first major attack in Baghdad for several days and the most deadly since a female suicide bomber killed 40 people at a Baghdad college on 25 February. |
Correspondents say the increase in checkpoints and troop numbers on the streets appear to have reduced death squad killings, but US military officials say car bombs remain a risk. | Correspondents say the increase in checkpoints and troop numbers on the streets appear to have reduced death squad killings, but US military officials say car bombs remain a risk. |
Thick smoke | Thick smoke |
The bomb sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky over Baghdad's commercial centre. | The bomb sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky over Baghdad's commercial centre. |
Papers from the book market were floating through the air like leaflets dropped from a plane Eyewitness Naim Daraji Mutanabbi Street - named after a renowned classical Arabic poet - is an area of mixed Shia- and Sunni-owned businesses and customers. | Papers from the book market were floating through the air like leaflets dropped from a plane Eyewitness Naim Daraji Mutanabbi Street - named after a renowned classical Arabic poet - is an area of mixed Shia- and Sunni-owned businesses and customers. |
Pools of blood collected in the street, a result of the dozens of blast injuries sustained by shoppers. | Pools of blood collected in the street, a result of the dozens of blast injuries sustained by shoppers. |
A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said there were women and children among the casualties. People drove the injured to hospital in private cars without waiting for ambulances. | A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said there were women and children among the casualties. People drove the injured to hospital in private cars without waiting for ambulances. |
"There was so much smoke that I was vomiting," said the witness, who was in a bookshop when its windows were blown out by the blast. | "There was so much smoke that I was vomiting," said the witness, who was in a bookshop when its windows were blown out by the blast. |
"Papers from the book market were floating through the air like leaflets dropped from a plane," said Naim Daraji, a civil servant quoted by Associated Press. | "Papers from the book market were floating through the air like leaflets dropped from a plane," said Naim Daraji, a civil servant quoted by Associated Press. |
"Pieces of flesh and the remains of books were scattered everywhere," he said. | "Pieces of flesh and the remains of books were scattered everywhere," he said. |
In other reported violence, gunmen killed five people when they opened fire on Shia pilgrims in two separate incidents around Baghdad. | In other reported violence, gunmen killed five people when they opened fire on Shia pilgrims in two separate incidents around Baghdad. |