BAGHDAD – The toll from a deadliest attack in three years in Iraqi capitalon Thursday has risen to 32 dead and 110 wounded, Iraq’s health ministryreported.
The so-called “Islamic State” terrorist group (IS) has claimedresponsibility for the twin terrorist attacks in Baghdad.
On Thursday morning, two suicide attackers staged explosions the Bab AlSharqi area in the Iraqi capital.
After the incident, a spokesman for the Iraqi commander-in-chief said thatthe attackers were pursued by the country’s security forces when theydetonated explosive devices.
Those who lost their lives had died on the scene of the attack, and thatmost of the wounded had been treated in hospitals and released, accordingto health ministry.
Several countries, including the US, Russia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Egyptand Iran, have strongly condemned the bombing.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s terrorist attacks inBaghdad,” , State Department Acting Secretary Daniel Smith said in astatement. “They were vicious acts of mass murder and a sobering reminderof the terrorism that continues to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqis.We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hopefor a speedy recovery of those wounded.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms this audacious terror attack aimed atundermining the security and stability of our allied Iraq. We stand insolidarity with the Iraqi leadership and people in the fight againstterrorism in all its forms,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saidin a statement.
Read Top Stories
The Iranian embassy said that Tehran stood by its neighbor and was ready tooffer any possible assistance to Iraq in its fight against jihadists,according to the Mehr news agency.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and InternationalCooperation stressed that the UAE expressed its strong condemnation ofthese criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violenceand terrorism aimed at destabilising security and stability incontravention of religious and humanitarian values and principles.
The ministry also expressed its sincere condolences to the families of thevictims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack, extending hisdeepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.
“#NATO remains committed to supporting #Iraq in the fight againstterrorism,” Stoltenberg wrote on his Twitter page on late Thursday.
