Roundup: 37 killed in wave of bomb attacks targeting crowded areas in Baghdad

A total of 37 people were killed and 86 others wounded on Monday in a wave of bomb attacks targeting crowded areas, mainly in predominantly Shiite neighborhoods, in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said.

The deadliest attack occurred before noon when a booby-trapped car detonated at the crowded 55 intersection in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in eastern part of Baghdad, leaving 35 people killed and 61 others wounded, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The massive blast destroyed several shops nearby and many stalls at an outdoor market, and setting fire to several vehicles, the source said.

Later in the day, the extremist Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Islamic websites.

The group repeatedly claimed responsibility for deadly attacks targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas, including markets, cafes and mosques across the country.

Also in the day, a booby-trapped car went off near Um al-Tubool mosque at the entrance of Dakhliyah neighborhood in southern Baghdad, killing a civilian and wounding 10 others, the source said.

The attack apparently targeted the convoy of a Sunni cleric, who escaped the attack unharmed, the source said, adding that Sheikh Mahdi al-Sumaida'i was likely targeted for his close ties with the predominantly Shiite government.

Another car bomb ripped through Zaafaraniyah neighborhood in southeastern part of Baghdad, wounding three people, while a fourth car bomb detonated at the garage of Kendi Hospital in eastern central the capital, wounding four people, he said.

Meanwhile, a roadside bomb went off near al-Chwadir Hospital in Car City neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, wounding five people, the source said.

In addition, a sticky bomb attached to a car detonated in Baladiyat neighborhood in eastern part of Baghdad, killing the driver and wounding three others, the source added.

The attacks in Baghdad came two days after a deadly attack claimed by the IS group when two of its suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests at the crowded car spare part market in Sinak area in downtown Baghdad, leaving 28 people killed and 53 others injured, according to official reports.

The attack came amid a major offensive by Iraqi security forces, backed by an international coalition, to drive out IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the US, which invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. Endit