Bomb blast wounds two persons northern Baghdad
Photos shared across social networks show pillows of smoke following a bomb blast in central Baghdad
Speaking to Al Sumaria News, the source said, “an IED, placed near stores on al-Basateen district, north of Baghdad, exploded on Sunday leaving two persons injured.”
“Security cordoned off the accident spot preventing approach. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” the source, who preferred anonymity, said.
While several blasts are not followed by a claim of responsibility, Islamic State militants said they had been behind some bloody explosions and attacks that hit the capital in the past months, leaving casualties among civilians and security troops.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) has said that violence in the country left 1115 casualties, excluding security members, during March. Baghdad was the second most affected province with 84 deaths and 246 injuries, according to the organization’s monthly casualty count.
Observers believe Islamic State have begun to escalate attacks outside the city of Mosul, where the group has been losing ground and personnel since October, so as to relieve pressure by government forces on that front and to divert attention from group losses.