Wave of car bombs targets Shia communities, killing 51

BAGHDAD: A wave of more than a dozen car bombings hit central and southern Iraq during morning rush hour yesterday, officials said, killing at least 51 people in the latest coordinated attack by insurgents.

The blasts, which wounded scores more, are part of a months-long surge of attacks that is reviving fears of a return to the widespread sectarian bloodshed that pushed the country to the brink of civil war after the 2003 US-led invasion.

Suicide attacks, car bombings and other violence have killed more than 3,000 people since April, including more than 500 since the start of July, according to an independent count.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for yesterday’s attacks, but they bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda’s Iraqi arm. The group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, frequently sets off such coordinated blasts in an effort to break Iraqis’ confidence in the Shia-led government.

Eight police officers said a total of 12 parked car bombs hit markets and parking lots in predominantly Shia neighbourhoods of Baghdad within one hour. They say the deadliest was in the eastern Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City, where two separate explosions killed nine civilians and wounded 33 others.

Ambulances rushed to the scene where rescuers and police were removing the charred and twisted remains of the car bombs from the bloodstained pavement. The force of the two explosions lightly damaged nearby houses and shops.

Taxi driver Ali Khalil was passing nearby when the first bomb exploded.

‘‘I heard a thunderous explosion that shook my car and broke the rear window,’’ 36-year-old Mr Khalil said. ‘‘I immediately pulled over and didn’t know what to do while seeing people running or lying on the ground,’’ he added.

He brought two of the wounded to a nearby hospital before heading back to his home to stay indoors for the rest the day. Like many Iraqis, he blamed political infighting and incapable security forces for the deteriorated security situation.

Two other separate car bombs went off in the northern Hurriyah neighbourhood, killing nine bystanders and wounding 29 others.

In the busy northern Kazimiyah neighbourhood, another parked car bomb killed four civilians and wounded 12.

In the southwestern neighbourhood of Bayaa, four civilians were killed and 15 wounded in another car bomb explosion. In western Baghdad in the neighbourhood of Shurta, two other people were killed and 14 wounded.

In the southern Abu Disheer area, four civilians were killed and 17 wounded. Another car bomb struck in the northwestern Tobchi district, killing three and wounding 10 others.