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Security forces say they pursued the two attackers before they blew themselves up. It was the first suicide bombing to hit Baghdad in almost two years.
The first bomber entered the market and, pretending to be sick, asked for help, which caused people to gather around it before it blew itself up, officials and officials said. state media. The second bomber then traveled to the scene on a motorcycle before detonating his explosive vest.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although it bears the hallmark of Sunni jihadist groups who carried out many similar attacks in Iraq. Double bombings were common in the country at the height of its sectarian war between 2005 and 2007.
“The two terrorist bombings against the safe citizens of Baghdad at this time confirm the attempts and efforts of obscure groups to target the national needs and aspirations of the Iraqi people for a peaceful future,” Iraqi President Barham Salih said in a tweet. “We firmly oppose these malicious attempts to destabilize our country,” he added.
A statement from the US embassy in Baghdad called the attack “a reprehensible act of cowardice that underscores the dangers of terrorism that millions of Iraqis continue to face.”
“We extend our condolences to the families of these victims and hope for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the statement said on the Facebook page of the US Embassy in Baghdad.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) also condemned the bombing. “Such a despicable act will not weaken Iraq’s march towards stability and prosperity,” UNAMI said in a statement on its Facebook page. “Our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and we wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an emergency meeting with senior security officials at the Baghdad operations command headquarters. Kadhimi, who is supported by the United States, is also the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces.
Despite a decrease in violence in recent years, Iraq continues to host numerous armed groups.
Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups have been accused of steadily stepping up attacks against US positions, namely the US Embassy, over the past year, leading to heightened tensions in a country struggling with a coronavirus epidemic and economic turmoil.
Pope Francis is due to travel to Iraq for a three-day trip in March. He plans to visit Baghdad as well as other parts of the country linked to Biblical sites, such as the Plains of Ur and Nineveh.
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq also contributed to this report from Atlanta.
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