Deadly blast in Iraqi capital kills at least 28, wounds 66

BAGHDAD, July 20: At least 28 people were killed and 66 others wounded in a bomb explosion at a crowded market in eastern Baghdad on Monday, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

The huge explosion ripped through the popular market in Sadr City, a suburb district of Baghdad, destroying several nearby shops and stalls and damaging surrounding buildings on the eve of the Eid al-Adha festival, the source said.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an emergency meeting with security and intelligence commanders to discuss the deadly attack, his media office said in a statement.

During the meeting, al-Kadhimi promised the families of the victims of the attack to hunt down the terrorists throughout the country, according to the statement.

For his part, in a tweet Iraqi President Barham Salih described the deadly incident as "a heinous crime and unparalleled cruelty," which came on the eve of Eid al-Adha.

"They do not accept that people rejoice even for a moment with safety and joy. We will not rest until we uproot the hateful and cowardly terrorism," Salih said.
  
The Iraqi authorities said in a brief statement that more information will be released after an investigation into the incident. So far, there has been no authentic claim for the attack.

Deadly bombings have been rare in Baghdad, as the security situation has improved in Iraq since Iraqi security forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, sporadic deadly incidents still occur in the war-ravaged country as IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.Enditem