Twin suicide bombings kill 32, injure over 110 in Iraq

DPA, 21ST JANUARY, 2021 -  At least 32 people were killed in a twin suicide attack that targeted a street market in central Baghdad, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The updated death toll makes it the most serious attack to hit the Iraqi capital in around three years.

Around 110 people were injured, including 36 who are being treated in hospital.

An army spokesman said that two suicide bombers blew themselves up while they were being pursued by security forces.

A witness told Dijlah TV that the first attacker pretended to be sick and was shouting in pain, then blew himself up after people gathered around him in the middle of a clothes street market.

The second blast took place around 10 minutes later, the witness added.

The United Nations mission in Iraq condemned the attack, referring to it as “a despicable act” that will not weaken Iraq’s march towards stability and prosperity. Turkey said it strongly condemned “this heinous terrorist attack” and reiterated its support to its “friend and neighbour Iraq in the fight against terrorism,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The United States, Jordan and Egypt have also condemned the attack and extended condolences to families of the victims.