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Iraq violence: Suicide bomber attacks funeral | Iraq violence: Suicide bomber attacks funeral |
(35 minutes later) | |
A suicide bomber has detonated explosives at a funeral in northern Iraq, killing more than 20 people and wounding scores, officials said. | |
The attack took place on Saturday near Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province. | The attack took place on Saturday near Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province. |
It is no yet clear who was behind the bombing. Sectarian violence has surged across the country in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. | It is no yet clear who was behind the bombing. Sectarian violence has surged across the country in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. |
Observers say Nineveh has become a rallying point for insurgents from the Sunni community. | Observers say Nineveh has become a rallying point for insurgents from the Sunni community. |
More than 5,000 people have been killed so far this year in Iraq, 800 of them in August alone, according to the United Nations. | More than 5,000 people have been killed so far this year in Iraq, 800 of them in August alone, according to the United Nations. |
Sunni anger | |
Police said the latest attack targeted the funeral of a member of the Shabak people. | |
The Shabak, who number about 50,000 and live between the Mosul plane and Baashiqa, have their own distinct language and belief system. | |
They largely follow a faith considered an offshoot of Shia Islam, and are frequently targeted in attacks by Sunni militants. | |
The assault comes a day after at least 30 people died in a bomb attack on a Sunni mosque in the central city of Baquba. | The assault comes a day after at least 30 people died in a bomb attack on a Sunni mosque in the central city of Baquba. |
The spike in deadly violence in recent months comes amid rising sectarian and ethnic tensions, triggered in April by an army raid on a Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near Hawija. | The spike in deadly violence in recent months comes amid rising sectarian and ethnic tensions, triggered in April by an army raid on a Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near Hawija. |
In recent weeks, Iraqi security forces have reportedly arrested hundreds of alleged al-Qaeda members in and around Baghdad as part of a campaign the Shia-led government is calling "Revenge for the martyrs". | In recent weeks, Iraqi security forces have reportedly arrested hundreds of alleged al-Qaeda members in and around Baghdad as part of a campaign the Shia-led government is calling "Revenge for the martyrs". |
But the operations, which have taken place mostly in Sunni districts, have angered the Sunni community and failed to halt the violence. | But the operations, which have taken place mostly in Sunni districts, have angered the Sunni community and failed to halt the violence. |
The country has also seen a spillover of violence from the conflict in Syria, which has taken on increasingly sectarian overtones. | The country has also seen a spillover of violence from the conflict in Syria, which has taken on increasingly sectarian overtones. |