Bomb blast kills 17 in Iraqi capital

A bomb explosion in Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad has left 17 worshipers dead and dozens wounded.

According to Iraqi security officials, the incident happened outside a Shia Muslim mosque located in al-Harithiya district in western Baghdad on Sunday afternoon.

The attacker reportedly had an explosive belt when he arrived in front of the mosque where people were attending prayers.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Iraqi police officer said, “The attacker approached the entrance of the mosque and blew himself up among the crowd.”

Iraq has been witnessing similar deadly incidents almost on a daily basis. Dozens of civilians, mostly in Shia neighborhoods, have lost their lives in Baghdad over the past week.

On Friday, more than 20 people were killed in separate car bombings in the capital. One blast hit Baghdad’s Baladiyat district, killing at least 13 people. The second explosion rocked the city’s Adhamiyah, killing five people. The third explosion also hit the Karrada district, leaving five others dead.

The overall security situation in Iraq has worsened over the past months after the ISIL Takfiri terrorists, of whom many are foreign militants, took control of parts of the country’s northern and western regions.

According to the United Nations, over 1,110 people were killed in acts of violence across Iraq in September.

The ISIL terrorists have been committing heinous crimes in the captured areas, including mass executions and beheading of people. They have threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and Izadi Kurds.

SSM/HMV/SS