Bombings Kill 126 in Baghdad Cafe & Market

Bombings Kill 126 in Baghdad Cafe & Market, Including Children:

Twin suicide bombings have killed at least 126 people in Baghdad, and ISIS claims it’s behind the one that killed the most people. reports CNN. The attack on July 3 occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. USA Today says the death toll includes 25 children, said CNN. USA Today reported that 10 women and six police officers were also killed.

According to CNN, there were two suicide bombings in succession, one in a busy shopping area, and the other at an outdoor market. ABC News reported that over 180 people were injured.

Initial reports from Iraq had said fewer were killed, but the death toll grew fast. Al-Jazeera said families, including many children who died, were out after sunset at the market. Photos showed extreme destruction from the car bombs:

According to the Jerusalem Post, the market blast was caused by a truck refrigerator that was filled with explosives. It blew up, killing at least 75 people and maybe more than 80. Said the Jerusalem Post:

    Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing.

CNN says that ISIS used Twitter to claim it was behind the attack in Karrada, which is where the market was located. According to CNN, the terrorist group said it was targeting Shiites. ISIS had not yet claimed responsibility for the second Baghdad attack. ABC News says ISIS called the market bombing part of its “ongoing security operations.”

2. The Attacks Came on the Final Week of Ramadan & Many Children Died

The BBC says the market attack occurred near a restaurant and shopping area in Baghdad’s central district, Karrada. “The street was busy with shoppers after sundown in the holy month of Ramadan, which ends this week,” BBC says.

According to the BBC, most of those killed were in Karrada. The second bomb killed five people when it exploded north of Baghdad in a Shia area, BBC reports. The BBC quoted the Associated Press in reporting that many of the dead were children. When the Prime Minister visited the scene, he was confronted by angry crowds.

According to CNN, families had gathered to watch the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in a cafe. The suicide bomb blew through a building with multiple floors that contained a gym and stores.

3. ISIS Killed Even More People in May in Bombings in Baghdad

It's not the first time in recent months that ISIS has targeted the Iraqi capital for suicide bombings. In May, over 90 people were killed in ISIS attacks there, CNN says. As with Sunday’s attack, the May suicide bombings occurred in a fast series. In May, one of the attacks was on a police station and killed several officers. There were three attacks in a row.

One Twitter user posted a map of ISIS car bombings since 2003 in Baghdad.

A map of every car bomb explosion in #Baghdad since 2003. Atleast 82 Killed and 160 injured in overnight bombings.