Region | Iraq

Car bomb in Baghdad bus stop kills many

A car bomb killed 63 people and wounded 75 at a crowded bus stop in northwestern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 19:31 June 17, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • The bomb left a heap of smoking, mangled wreckage.
  • Image Credit: AP
Image 1 of 2
12

Baghdad: A powerful car bomb exploded in a crowded market area of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 63 people and wounding 75, in the biggest attack in the Iraqi capital in months.

Four children and five women were among those killed by the blast, Iraqi police said.
The bomb blew up near the main market in Al Hurriya neighbourhood in northwestern Baghdad, police said. It left a heap of smoking, mangled wreckage.

Ambulances raced back and forth taking casualties to nearby hospitals.

The US military said a "special groups" cell was responsible for the attack. This is jargon for Shiite militants which the US military believes are backed by Iran.

The military added the bomb was ordered to foster sectarian violence.

Before the blast, the market would have been packed with late-afternoon shoppers buying food before returning home.

Police said that the blast also set fire to about 20 shops and left several vehicles damaged.

Earlier on Tuesday, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck the checkpoint of US-allied fighters in northern Baghdad.

One person was killed in the attack and at least four others were injured, officials said.

In Mosul, gunmen shot dead Iraqi journalist Mohieldin Abdul Hameed just after he left for his home in Mosul.

Hundreds of angry demonstrators also took to the streets to protest the killing of four people in a US raid in the city.

The US military said the four killed were terrorists, but Iraqi police said they were civilians.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Journalist killed in drive-by shooting

    Gunmen kill Iraqi journalist in drive-by shooting

  2. Roadside bombing kills three Iraqis

    Roadside bombing kills three Iraqis

  3. Four Al Qaida militants killed in Mosul raid

    Four Al Qaida militants killed in Mosul raid

  4. Iraq readies forces for militia crackdown

    Iraq readies forces for militia crackdown

  5. Iraq sends troops, police to Amara

    Iraq sends troops, police to Amara

    Army head to Amara to crack down on militant Shiites

More from Iraq

  1. Election dispute poses risk to security

  2. Kuwait denies entry restriction reports

  3. 26 wounded in twin bombs in Iraq

  4. Google to put Iraqi national museum online

All articles in Iraq

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News
News Editor's choice