Reply #5: Blast in Shiite area of Baghdad kills 26 [View All]

[lligrd]

Blast in Shiite area of Baghdad kills 26 17 minutes ago AP


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide car bomber struck a predominantly Shiite neighborhood in central Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 26 people and wounding 54, police said. The blast occurred shortly after two rockets slammed into the heavily fortified Green Zone.

Two hours later a second huge explosion rocked the area. Police said they had blown up a second car bomb that had been disabled before its second suicide bomber could detonate the vehicle.

A massive plume of black smoke rose into the air on the east bank of the Tigris River and heavy gunfire rang out across the city center in the aftermath.

The suicide bomber struck in the central neighborhood of Karradah, the second bombing to strike the area in three days. At least three policemen were among the dead.

Angry Shiite residents took to the streets chanting "We want the Sunnis out!" There is a small Christian and Sunni population in that section of the city

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