Thirty-eight dead in central Baghdad double suicide attack

A double suicide attack killed 38 people in Baghdad on Monday, a health official said, the second such attack in the Iraqi capital in three days. Earlier reports by spokesmen from the Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry had 26 killed and at least 16 dead, respectively, and dozens wounded.

Dr Abdel Ghani al-Saadi, health chief for east Baghdad, reported “26 dead and 90 wounded”. “Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in al-Tayyaran square in central Baghdad,” said General Saad Maan, spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, which includes the army and the police. He said there had been 16 deaths.

According to an AP report, Iraq's interior ministry said back-to-back suicide attacks in central Baghdad kill at least 16 people, wound 65.

Another report by Reuters, quoting Iraqi interior ministry, said that at least 16 people were killed and 65 wounded in the twin suicide bombing in central Baghdad.

The toll could rise as more bodies were being recovered from the site at Aviation Square, the ministry said in a statement. The AP report quoted Maj. Gen. Saad Maan as saying that the rush-hour attack struck at the city’s Tayran Square on Monday morning.

He said it was carried out by two suicide bombers and that the explosions also wounded at least 65 people. The area around the square is usually crowded by laborers seeking work.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but it bore the hallmarks of ISIS, which has claimed such attacks before.

Militant attacks have decreased significantly in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq since the country’s security forces retook nearly all territory once held by ISIS. Iraqi and US officials have warned ISIS would continue with insurgent-style attacks.