BAGHDAD (AP) — Militants have unleashed a wave of attacks in Iraq, mainly targeting Shiite areas in and around the capital.
Officials say at least 50 people were killed and dozens more wounded.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the day’s deadliest strike. Two parked car bombs exploded simultaneously in a commercial area of northern neighborhood of Baghdad, killing 14 civilians and wounding 34 others. Residents angered by the failure of government forces to protect the neighborhood threw stones at police checkpoints and police cars that arrived to respond to the blasts, prompting police to withdraw from the area.
Senior Iraqi officials have tried to reassure residents that the capital is too well-protected for militants to capture, but they’ve struggled to stop the near daily attacks.
Islamic State fighters say they have a foothold inside Baghdad and have claimed several large-scale bombings, particularly in Shiite districts.
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APPHOTO BKM106: Security forces inspect the site of a car bomb explosion in the largely Shiite eastern neighborhood of Talibiyah in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint Thursday in the Iraqi capital, killing more than 10 and wounding tens of people, Iraqi officials said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) (16 Oct 2014)
< APPHOTO BKM101: Civilians walk through the site of a car bomb explosion in the largely Shiite eastern neighborhood of Talibiyah in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint Thursday in the Iraqi capital, killing more than 10 and wounding tens of people, Iraqi officials said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) (16 Oct 2014) < APPHOTO BKM104: Security forces inspect the site of a car bomb explosion in the largely Shiite eastern neighborhood of Talibiyah in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint Thursday in the Iraqi capital, killing more than 10 and wounding tens of people, Iraqi officials said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) (16 Oct 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.