This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24100632
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraq violence: Bombs cause mayhem across Iraq | Iraq violence: Bombs cause mayhem across Iraq |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fresh wave of bombs has killed more than 40 people across Iraq - mostly targeting Shia areas - officials say. | |
| The deadliest was in the city of Hilla, south of the capital Baghdad, where two car bombs at a market killed at least 15 civilians. | |
| Other bombs hit Baghdad itself as well as Basra, Nasiriya and Karbala in the south of the country. | Other bombs hit Baghdad itself as well as Basra, Nasiriya and Karbala in the south of the country. |
| Sectarian violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. | Sectarian violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. |
| 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. |
| Son injured | Son injured |
| In Hilla, about 95km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, two parked car bombs exploded simultaneously near a busy market, police said. | In Hilla, about 95km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, two parked car bombs exploded simultaneously near a busy market, police said. |
| Abu Ahmed, who runs a grocery store, told Reuters news agency that he had stepped out of his shop when the two explosions occurred. | Abu Ahmed, who runs a grocery store, told Reuters news agency that he had stepped out of his shop when the two explosions occurred. |
| "I ran to check on my son who was covering for me in my shop and found him covered with blood among many other bodies. There is no trace left of my shop," he said. | "I ran to check on my son who was covering for me in my shop and found him covered with blood among many other bodies. There is no trace left of my shop," he said. |
| Some of the other attacks included: | Some of the other attacks included: |
| On Saturday, more than 20 people died when a suicide bomber targeted the funeral of a member of the Shabak people near Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province. The Shabak - about 50,000 people who largely follow a faith considered an offshoot of Shia Islam - are frequently targeted in attacks by Sunni militants. | On Saturday, more than 20 people died when a suicide bomber targeted the funeral of a member of the Shabak people near Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province. The Shabak - about 50,000 people who largely follow a faith considered an offshoot of Shia Islam - are frequently targeted in attacks by Sunni militants. |
| And on Friday, at least 30 people died in a bomb attack on a Sunni mosque in the central city of Baquba. | And on Friday, at least 30 people died in a bomb attack on a Sunni mosque in the central city of Baquba. |
| 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. |