IS claims Baghdad suicide attack that left at least 30 deadMarch 26, 2016 - 11:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A suicide bomber blew himself up on a football pitch as trophies were being presented after a local tournament south of Baghdad Friday, March 25, killing at least 30 people, police and medics said, according to AFP. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack that wreaked carnage on the field where supporters, officials and security forces were gathered after the game. "They were just handing the trophy to the winners, when the suicide attacker blew himself up in the crowd," a police captain from the village, Al-Asriya, told AFP. The village is near Iskandariyah, a town about 40 kilometres south of the capital. The police captain said more than 65 people were also wounded in the blast. A medic at Iskandariyah hospital confirmed the toll and warned it could rise further. The mayor, Ahmed Shaker, was among the dead. The jihadist IS group promptly released a statement on social media claiming responsibility for the attack and posted a picture of the purported bomber. IS claimed in its statement that the blast had killed more than 60 and wounded more than 100. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |