Iraqi officials: Suicide attack in busy commercial area in Baghdad kills at least 14 people

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say a suicide attack in a busy commercial area in Baghdad has killed at least 14 people.

A police officer says a suicide bomber set off his explosives-laden belt on Tuesday outside a Shiite mosque in downtown Baghdad as worshippers headed inside to attend noon prayers. He says the explosion also wounded 26 people.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

The attack came as Iraq’s Shiite-led government is struggling to contain the worst surge in sectarian violence since the country was pushed to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

The U.N. says violence killed 8,868 people last year.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.