22 Iraqis killed, wounded in random shooting attack in Baghdad
Iraqi troops carrying weapons during a fight against Islamic State
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – At least 22 Iraqi people were killed and wounded in a random shooting spree in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in the latest of several terrorist attacks against civilians in this war-torn country.
“The attack occurred late on Tuesday when unidentified gunmen randomly opened fire at civilians in a remote village in Baghdad’s al-Tarmia district, leaving eight dead and 14 others wounded,” a security source told Alghad Press Wednesday.
“The troops immediately rushed to the shooting scene and sealed off all entrances and exits of the district,” the source noted. “A manhunt was launched in search of the attackers, who fled the scene after the shooting.”
Meanwhile, the Iraqi security media council denied in a statement all reports on the spread of terrorist gangs in al-Tarmia, stressing that the district is fully under the control of security forces.
The Iraqi capital has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks against security members, paramilitary troops and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake Islamic State-occupied areas in 2016.
Though most of the daily bombings go without a claim of responsibility, Islamic State is expected to be behind many.
Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq last December, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.