Baghdad rocked by deadly IS-claimed 

bombings and assault

A truck bomb killed almost 60 people in Sadr City last August (AFP) 

Sunday 28 February 2016

At least 24 people were killed on Sunday in bombings near a market in Baghdad's Sadr City district claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, while militants also linked to the group attacked security forces to the west of the Iraqi capital.

The blasts in the northern neighbourhood, at least one of which was a suicide bombing, also wounded at least 59 people, Iraqi medical and security officials said.

The bombings were the deadliest attacks to hit Baghdad this year.

Last August a truck bomb claimed by the group killed almost 60 people at a market in the same predominantly Shia area.

Earlier, officials said that Iraqi security forces had repelled an attack by IS fighters near the western suburb of Abu Ghraib, but sources told Middle East Eye later on Sunday that fighting was still going on.

The pro-IS Amaq news agency also said the group had launched an in Abu Ghraibm, which is close to Iraq's international airport.

Three suicide car bombers detonated their vehicles and gunmen opened fire at a security forces barracks, leaving at least 12 people killed and dozens more injured, officials said.

An anonymous security source told Kurdish news site Rudaw that the militants "launched a surprise attack targeting a police station outside Abu Ghraib".

"Security measures in the area were strengthened and a curfew was enforced," the source said.

A source told MEE that the attackers had been able to seize control of small but strategically important areas. 

Local residents told Rudaw that the sound of blasts was heard throughout the area, and that smoke could be seen rising from government buildings in the aftermath of the attack.

A spokesperson for Baghdad's military control room on Sunday afternoon denied that there was a mass exodus of families from Abu Ghraib, warning people to avoid "rumours".

An army officer who spoke to local news site Al-Sumaria maintained that the area was now under full control of the armed forces.

Another said the army had killed "most" of the attackers, who included people with "Arab and foreign nationalities".