Baghdad: At Least 36 Killed, 75 Injured in Three Massive Blasts

Local Editor, 25-1-2010

At least 36 people were killed and 75 injured when three bomb blasts rocked Baghdad on Monday, apparently targeting a number of hotels in the Iraqi capital, police said.

Three massive blasts in quick succession shook Baghdad on Monday, with the first near the Palestine Hotel followed minutes later by two loud explosions near the international Green Zone.

The first explosion occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time (1230 GMT) sending plumes of smoke rising hundreds of meters into the sky.

The second blast came just minutes later in the center of the capital near the Green Zone, with the third soon after.