Pair of suicide bombings strikes heart of Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Twin suicide bombings rocked Baghdad on Monday, killing 38 people in the deadliest attack since Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group last month, and raising fears ahead of national elections planned for May.
The bombers targeted the bustling Tayran Square, in the heart of the capital, setting off their explosive vests among laborers and street vendors during the morning rush hour. More than 100 people were wounded, according to police and hospital officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
No one has claimed the attacks, but they bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State.
Iraqi forces have driven the militants from all the territory they once held, but the group has proven resilient in the past and is likely to continue carrying out insurgent-style attacks. That could undermine Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who hopes to extend the country’s newfound sense of pride and unity in order to lead a diverse coalition to power in May.
Ambulances rushed to the scene as security forces sealed off the area. Slippers could be seen scattered about on the blood-stained pavement as cleaners hurried to clear the debris.
“I felt the ground shaking under my feet,” said Munthir Falah, a clothing vendor whose chest and right leg were pierced by shrapnel. He said he lost consciousness before later waking up in a hospital. Falah said govern- ment forces had failed to secure the capital.
Al-Abadi met security officials in charge of Baghdad, ordering them to root out militant sleeper cells, according to a statement issued by his office.
A deterioration in security could undermine his claim to have vanquished Islamic State and create an opening for his main rival, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to return to power.
The government has proposed holding elections on May 12, but parliament must approve the date. Sunni leaders have called for the vote to be delayed until the 3 million people still displaced from the fighting can return to their homes.