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Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe
(30 minutes later)
An explosion has hit a cafeteria at the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring several other people, witnesses have said. An explosion has hit a cafeteria at the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring at least 15 people, witnesses and security officials say.
The cafeteria is reserved for MPs and their staff, some of whom were having lunch there when the blast happened. Police said they believed a suicide bomber was involved, but that they were keeping an open mind about the cause.
The building, where parliament was in session, is located inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. The cafe, in Baghdad's highly fortified Green Zone, is for MPs and their staff, some of whom were having lunch there.
Earlier, a bomb on a bridge in Baghdad killed at least eight people and sent several cars into the River Tigris.Earlier, a bomb on a bridge in Baghdad killed at least eight people and sent several cars into the River Tigris.
Click here for a aerial map of the Green Zone Click here for a aerial map of the Green Zone
The bridge and the cafeteria attacks are major blows to the much trumpeted Baghdad security surge now in its third month, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.The bridge and the cafeteria attacks are major blows to the much trumpeted Baghdad security surge now in its third month, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.
The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks.The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks.
ChaosChaos
MP Mohammed Hassan Awad from the National Dialogue bloc (a Sunni group not part of the government) was killed in the blast.MP Mohammed Hassan Awad from the National Dialogue bloc (a Sunni group not part of the government) was killed in the blast.
Another MP was also killed and at least three more parliamentarians were injured in the blast, a police source told the BBC, adding the police believed the total number of casualties may be much higher. Another MP was also killed and at least three more parliamentarians were among the injured, a police source told the BBC.
We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood Parliamentary officialWe saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood Parliamentary official
The blast may have been caused by a bomb left in or near the cafeteria rather than by a suicide bomber, the source said.
The security around the parliament building and around the whole of the Green Zone is extremely tight, so it is very hard to see how a bomb could have been smuggled in there, says our correspondent.The security around the parliament building and around the whole of the Green Zone is extremely tight, so it is very hard to see how a bomb could have been smuggled in there, says our correspondent.
The bomb went off 10 minutes after the parliament had adjourned for lunch.The bomb went off 10 minutes after the parliament had adjourned for lunch.
It exploded in the cafeteria on the first floor where the deputies, their staff and parliamentary officials were taking their break.It exploded in the cafeteria on the first floor where the deputies, their staff and parliamentary officials were taking their break.
Windows were blown out, there was chaos and confusion. Windows were blown out and there was chaos and confusion.
One witness said there were many casualties, but most telecommunications were disrupted and no clear figures were available.One witness said there were many casualties, but most telecommunications were disrupted and no clear figures were available.
"We heard a huge explosion inside the restaurant," a parliamentary official at the scene told Reuters news agency."We heard a huge explosion inside the restaurant," a parliamentary official at the scene told Reuters news agency.
"We went to see what was going on. We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood.""We went to see what was going on. We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood."
CondemnationCondemnation
It is the first time a bomb has gone off inside the parliament building although it has been shaken by several mortar attacks in the past.It is the first time a bomb has gone off inside the parliament building although it has been shaken by several mortar attacks in the past.
Access to the building itself is subject to very tight additional security measures. Access to the building is subject to very tight additional security measures. Several of its members have been assassinated outside the Green Zone
Several of its members have been assassinated outside the Green Zone The bombing of the Sarafiya bridge, one of the main arterial bridges in Baghdad, had been condemned by the speaker of parliament a short time before the explosion in his own building.
The bombing of the Sarafiya bridge, one of the main arterial bridges in Baghdad itself, had been condemned by the speaker of parliament just a very short time before the explosion in his own building.
The bridge, one of the main linking the two halves of the capital across the Tigris river, was partially demolished by a huge truck bomb.The bridge, one of the main linking the two halves of the capital across the Tigris river, was partially demolished by a huge truck bomb.
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Are you in Iraq? Do you know anyone who has been affected by the bomb blasts? Send us your comments.Are you in Iraq? Do you know anyone who has been affected by the bomb blasts? Send us your comments.
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