A suicide car bomber killed at least 18 people and injured 80 more at a government office in Baghdad on Tuesday, during a second day of escalated violence in the Iraqi capital.
Attempting to drive through a police checkpoint, the attacker’s target appears to have been the forensics center in the Kerrada district of the city.
The blast followed three other bomb attacks on key hotels in the city, which claimed 36 lives on Monday.
The bombings began after Monday’s execution of Saddam Hussein’s notorious henchman, Ali Hassan Al Majid—or ‘Chemical Ali’— one of the last surviving members of the inner circle of the deposed leader to face justice.
The attacks are also occurring during the run-up to the March election, the country’s second since the regime was toppled in 2003.
Most of the casualties from Tuesday’s blast were from the forensics center, defense officials said.
Hassan al-Saidi, a mechanic who works in the area, said he had seen at least five vehicles in flames and more than a dozen people wounded by flying glass.
“I’ve heard many explosions in the past, but nothing like this,” he told Reuters news agency.
The forensics center had been targeted twice by bombers before who attack official buildings.
Bombings in August, October, and December last year—which killed almost 400 people—were directed against the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, and justice.
Attempting to drive through a police checkpoint, the attacker’s target appears to have been the forensics center in the Kerrada district of the city.
The blast followed three other bomb attacks on key hotels in the city, which claimed 36 lives on Monday.
The bombings began after Monday’s execution of Saddam Hussein’s notorious henchman, Ali Hassan Al Majid—or ‘Chemical Ali’— one of the last surviving members of the inner circle of the deposed leader to face justice.
The attacks are also occurring during the run-up to the March election, the country’s second since the regime was toppled in 2003.
Most of the casualties from Tuesday’s blast were from the forensics center, defense officials said.
Hassan al-Saidi, a mechanic who works in the area, said he had seen at least five vehicles in flames and more than a dozen people wounded by flying glass.
“I’ve heard many explosions in the past, but nothing like this,” he told Reuters news agency.
The forensics center had been targeted twice by bombers before who attack official buildings.
Bombings in August, October, and December last year—which killed almost 400 people—were directed against the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, and justice.
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