Sectarian violence led to the deaths of more than 70 in Iraq on Monday, as waves of bombs tore across mostly Shiite neighborhoods.
Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, Reuters reported. But Sunni Muslim radicals tied to al Qaeda have been increasing attacks on Shiite regions in recent months. And Monday’s latest attacks followed the usual Islamist insurgent method: Death by multiple, timed bomb blasts.
More than a dozen went off in heavily trafficked shopping market areas in various Shiite districts — including two that went off simultaneously, just a few hundred feet from each other. In those two, just outside Sadr City, 13 were killed, Reuters said.
“A driver hit another car and left, pretending to bring traffic police,” said one bystander to Reuters. “Another car rushed to take him away and right after, his car exploded among people who had gathered to see what was happening. People were shouting for help and blood covered their faces.”
Children were among the fatalities.
BBC said one bomb that hit at Sadoun Street, a busy commercial zone in the middle of Baghdad, killed a 4-year-old.
“What crime have those innocent people committed?” bystander Zein al-Abidin asked, in the BBC report.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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