Car bomb in Iraq kills over 40 people.
More than 40 people died and dozens more were injured in two consecutive car bombings in Baghdad, Iraq.
The majority of the victims were armed militiamen participating in the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).
The first attack occurred last night when a car bomb was detonated on Al Karada shopping street in central Baghdad, killing 15 people instantly and injuring about 30 others, while destroying or damaging numerous shops and cars.
 |
| Two consecutive car bomb attacks killed more than 40 people in Baghdad. (Photo: Guardian) |
The second attack occurred shortly afterward when a suicide bomber detonated a Hamvee car bomb at a security checkpoint manned by Shiite militias in the town of Al Sakhra, about 50 km south of Baghdad. The explosion killed at least 25 people and injured 25 others. All the casualties were Shiite militiamen, while the perpetrator is believed to be a member of the Islamic State organization.
The car bomb attacks in Baghdad and surrounding areas occurred amidst the continued presence of Islamic State militants in several locations just a few dozen kilometers from Baghdad, directly threatening the security of the Gulf nation's capital.
Tens of thousands of Iraqi government soldiers and Shiite militias have massed in Baghdad and its suburbs to defend the city, while the US-led coalition against the Islamic State has also been continuously carrying out airstrikes to support Baghdad's defense.
According to VOV
