24 die in two suicide attacks in Baghdad

A police tape cordons the site of a suicide bomb blast in Baghdad al-Jadida, Iraq September 27, 2016. Picture: Ahmed Saad

A police tape cordons the site of a suicide bomb blast in Baghdad al-Jadida, Iraq September 27, 2016. Picture: Ahmed Saad

Published Sep 28, 2016

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Baghdad - At least 24 people were killed and more than 65 others injured in two separate suicide attacks in predominantly Shiite areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Tuesday, sources told dpa.

The two attacks were claimed by the Islamic State extremist militia, which regards Shiite Muslims as heretics.

The first assault occurred inside a popular market in the predominantly Shiite New Baghdad neighbourhood in the capital's east, killing at least 13 people including the attacker, witnesses and medical sources told dpa.

Over 30 others were injured and the blast caused damage to several stores, witnesses and medical sources told dpa.

In a statement released by one of Islamic State's affiliates on the Telegram messaging app, the group said that a member detonated his explosive belt among a group of "heretics," killing and injuring 50 of them.

Shortly afterwards, a similar attack hit a commercial street in the mainly Shiite al-Bayaa neighbourhood in western Baghdad, leaving at least 11 dead, including the bomber, and 35 others wounded, police sources told dpa.

Islamic State placed the number of casualties at 40 in statement also released via a Telegram channel.

dpa

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