“There are security men among the casualties,” the source said, adding that the explosion caused severe damage to vehicles that were at the scene.
Another security source told Shafaq News that the explosions took place “after two suicide bombers wearing explosive belts blew themselves up at a crowded site near al-Tayaran Square where many construction workers were gathered.”
Baghdad has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks since Islamic State militants emerged in 2014 and proclaimed a self-styled “Caliphate” before a military campaign claimed victory over the militant group early December.
According to the monthly release by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 69 civilians, excluding police personnel, were killed, while 142 others were wounded in December due to acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict across the country.
The worst affected province was Baghdad with 122 civilian casualties (24 killed, 98 injured). Salahuddin ranked the second place, with 7 killed and 25 injured, then Kirkuk came third with 15 killed and 6 injured.
The figures represented a significant decline from November’s which reached a total of 117 Iraqi civilians killed and another 264 injured.
According to the organization, 3298 Iraqi civilians were killed and 4781 were wounded in violence and armed conflict in 2017.
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10:17
The Iraqi Interior Ministry says at least 16 people have been killed and 65 injured by two suicide bombings in central Baghdad, AzVision.az reports citing Reuters.
Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan said the suicide bombers targeted Sahet al-Tayaran (Aviation Square) in the center of the Iraqi capital early on January 15.
The Baghdad Health Department reported a higher number of casualties, saying at least 26 were dead and 90 were injured.
Abdel Ghani al-Saadi, a medical doctor and health chief for eastern Baghdad, reported "26 dead and 90 wounded."
Witnesses told the German dpa news agency that the blast took place near a gathering for construction workers.
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