IS claims responsibility for Baghdad twin bombing that killed 32 people

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombing that rocked a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday. The bombing, which was the deadliest in three years, killed 32 people and injured 110, news agency AFP reported. 

The attacker initially gathered a crowd at the busy market in
the capital’s Tayaran Square by asserting he is sick, then blasted his explosives
belt, said the interior ministry. Following this, another attack was carried
off by a second suicide bomber, after people reached to the place to help
victims post the first attack, reported AFP.

The open-air
market, where second-hand clothes are sold at stalls, had been teeming with
people after the lifting of nearly a year of COVID-19 restrictions across the
country.

According to an AFP photographer present at the scene told that security
forces had shut off the area, where blood-soaked clothes were scattered across
the muddy streets and paramedics were hurrying to take away the casualties.

The health ministry mentioned, people who lost their lives had died on
the place of the attack, and those who were injured had been treated and
released from hospital.

However, soon after midnight, IS took to its online propaganda channels
and claimed responsibility for the attack. The government would “stand
firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country”, said President
Barham Saleh condemning Thursday’s attack.

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The United States, the United Nations and the European Union also
strongly condemned the attack while Pope Francis, who hopes to visit Iraq in
March, deplored the “senseless act of brutality”.

US acting secretary of state Daniel Smith called the bombings “were
vicious acts of mass murder and a sobering reminder of the terrorism that
continues to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqis” and UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an appeal “to the people of Iraq
to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace,
stability and unity.”

The EU called the attack “senseless and barbaric” and
reiterated its “full support to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against
extremism and terrorism” while the UN’s Iraq mission offered condolences
to the victims and said: “Such a despicable act will not weaken Iraq’s
march towards stability and prosperity.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said his government
was ready to assist Iraq “in the struggle against terrorism and
extremism” and also added that the attack was meant “to disrupt the
peace and stability of Iraq and to provide a pretext for foreigners to maintain
their presence there”.

In the wake of Iraq’s upcoming election, these attacks were targeted as
in 2018, similar attack took place just a few months before Iraq’s last round
of parliamentary elections, reported AFP.

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Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi had originally set this year’s general
election for June, nearly a year ahead of schedule, in response to widespread
protests in 2019 but authorities are in talks over rescheduling them to
October, to give electoral authorities more time to register voters and new
parties.

The US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq’s campaign against IS
has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the
increased capabilities of Iraqi forces.