More than 70 Martyred by Twin ’ISIS’ Suicide Attacks in Baghdad

Local Editor

A twin suicide bombing claimed by "ISIS" martyred more than 70 people in a district of Baghdad on Sunday in the deadliest attack inside the capital this year.

Police sources said the suicide bombers were riding motorcycles and blew themselves up in a crowded mobile phone market in Sadr City, wounding more than 100 people in addition to the dead.

A Reuters witness saw pools of blood on the ground with slippers, shoes and mobile phones at the site of the blasts, which was sealed off to prevent further attacks.

In a statement circulated online, "ISIS" said it was responsible for the blasts.

Iraqi forces backed by airstrikes from a US-led coalition have driven "ISIS" back in the western Anbar province recently and are preparing for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the attacks were in response to "ISIS" recent defeats: "This gang targeted civilians after it lost the initiative and its dregs fled the battlefield before our proud fighters," he said on his official Facebook page.

At dawn on Sunday, suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Iraqi security forces in Abu Ghraib, seizing positions in a grain silo and a cemetery, and killing at least 17 members of the security forces, officials said.

Footage circulated online by the Amaq news agency appeared to show "ISIS" terrorists crouching behind dirt berms and launching the attack with automatic rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Reuters could not verify the video's authenticity.

Security forces had mostly regained control by Sunday evening but officials said there were still clashes.

Iraqi army helicopters bombarded "ISIS" positions in the and Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said at least 20 militants had been killed in the government's counter offensive.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team