Iraq officials: Huge truck bomb in Baghdad market kills 54

Just a few days after a suicide truck bomb that was covered in this HNGN article killed six in Afghanistan, another massive truck bomb has exploded in a popular Baghdad food market on Thursday, killing at least 58 and injuring at least 89 people.

Residents of the Shiite community rushed to the market to help the victims, carrying corpses in garbage bags and sending the wounded to local hospitals in ambulances or in personal cars.

The blast incinerated much of the market, leaving charred wooden market stalls and scattering fruit and vegetables far around it.

In a message posted on an IS-affiliated Twitter account, Islamic State said the attack was carried out by a parked, explosives-laden truck. “On Thursdays the market is especially crowded because people come from the other provinces to stock up on food for the weekend”, the officer stated.

Fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene and firemen were dousing the still-smoldering complex with water long after the explosion.

Four hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures.

No body instantly claimed responsibility but State militants generally target Shiite neighborhoods for example Sadr City or mainly checkpoints, of delivering a note towards the Shiite using the objective -centered government.

Widespread discontent among Sunni Arabs, who say they were marginalised and targeted by Maliki’s government, played a major role in worsening the security situation in Iraq, culminating in a disastrous jihadist offensive previous year. But any substantial assaults were discouraged by a mobilisation of offer Shiite fighters about the money. Iraqi forces are constantly battling to drive the jihadists back with support from a US-led coalition and Iran.

The group focused a well known marketplace within the western land of Diyala, eliminating over 115 people in another of the toughest simple assaults to rip through the nation in ten years, last month.

Iraq is experiencing an upsurge in instability with the government struggling to contend with the ISIL group.