At least 18 dead, dozens wounded during siege of Baghdad shopping mall

Islamic State militants controlling swathes of Iraq’s north and west claimed responsibility for the mall attacks, which it said had targeted a gathering of “rejectionist heathens”, its derogatory term for Shiite Muslims. It said the attack was executed by four “soldiers of the caliphate” and was meant to target Shiites.

The attack, when combined with three other blasts that took place on Monday in other areas of Baghdad, was the largest to hit the city in months. “They are trying to distract the forces by carrying out attacks inside Baghdad”, said Gen. Shammari.

Gunmen stormed into a Baghdad mall on Monday after setting off a auto bomb and launching a suicide att…

Police said a counter-terrorism force from the intelligence services was on the scene and snipers were posted on buildings around the centre. “The situation is under control”.

The auto bomb in southeast Baghdad in a crowded market area killed five people and wounded 12, according to hospital and police officials.

Seven more people, including two policemen, were killed when another bomb went off in a Baghdad suburb.

Security sources said an improvised explosive device was detonated at a tea shop in the town of Muqdadiya, which is some 80km (50 miles) from the capital.

It has carried out numerous atrocities, including the November attacks in Paris, which left 130 dead, and the October downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board. A bomber detonated his suicide vest inside a casino in the town.

As medics and civilians gathered at the site of the first blast an explosive-laden vehicle parked outside the cafe exploded.

Angry mobs then attacked several Sunni mosques in apparently retaliatory attacks, prompting security forces to impose a curfew in the area, Sunni lawmaker, Raad al-Dahlaki, told The Associated Press. When world leaders convene for the U.N. General Assembly debate Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, it will be a year since the USA president declared the formation of an worldwide coalition to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State group.

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the assault via social media and claimed four of its militants were involved.