Roundup: Death toll of car bombing attack in Iraq's capital reaches 292

The death toll from a suicide bombing attack in Karrada district in Iraq's capital of Baghdad has reached 292, the health ministry said Thursday.

"The government has handed over 115 bodies to their families and the identities of 177 people have yet to be determined," Health Minister Adila Hammoud said in a statement.

A suicide bomber detonated a car loaded with explosives in front of a shopping center in the commercial district in southern Baghdad on Sunday, which is the deadliest bombing attack since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack that also left another 200 people wounded. "Most of the wounded are recovered and only 23 of them are still in the hospitals for treatment," she added.

The three-floor building was destroyed, when many people were inside. Many of the victims were women and children. Rescuers said the explosion and the following huge fire killed all members in some families.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced three days of national mourning for the victims after he visited the blast site on Sunday. His convoy was attacked by dozens of angry residents who accused the government of failing to protect its people.

He ordered an intensification of security measures on the entrances of Baghdad and in other Iraqi provinces.

During his visit to the explosion site, Abadi vowed to punish those behind the attacks, according to a statement issued by his office.

"The terrorist groups carried out such desperate deadly attacks as a result of being crushed in the battlefield," the statement said, referring to the government's recent victory of retaking Fallujah city from IS in the country's western province of Anbar.

Abadi also sent his condolences to the families of the victims and promised that "victory over these terrorist groups is very close."

The Iraqi government announced victory of retaking Fallujah, one of the last two strongholds of IS in Iraq, late last month, after almost a month of military operations.

The army is expected to be deployed to the northern Nineveh province, preparing to launch attacks against Mosul city, the country's second biggest city that fell into IS control two years ago.

The IS has frequently targeted security forces and areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques, across Iraq.

Observers said there could be more attacks against military targets and civilians in the future as the army advances to the last IS stronghold of Mosul.

Iraq has been hit by a wave of violence since the IS terrorist group seized large parts in Iraq's northern and western regions since 2014.

A report by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq estimated that 662 Iraqis were killed and 1,457 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June this year across Iraq. Endit