A series of car bombs in mainly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad killed 57 people and wounded more than 150 on Saturday (August 10), in what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks on people celebrating the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The 12 separate blasts targeting markets, busy shopping streets and parks where families like to mark Eid were part of a surge in sectarian violence in Iraq since the start of the year.

In one of the attacks, two car bombs went off in the predominantly Shi'ite district of Amil in south-western Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding 14 others, police and hospital sources said.

Two car bombs exploded in the mainly Shi'ite Shaab neighbourhood in northern Baghdad killing at least six and wounding more than 20, said police and hospital sources.

This has been one of the deadliest Ramadan months in years, with regular bomb attacks killing scores of people, especially in the capital. The latest bombings were similar to attacks in Baghdad on Tuesday in which 50 died.

A car bomb also hit a Shi'ite mosque in the ethnically mixed northern city of Kirkuk, killing one worshipper and wounding five.

Presented by Adam Justice

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/violence-iraq-gun-attacks-car-bombing-al-498266