Dozens killed in Baghdad car bombings
At least 32 people dead and 78 wounded after attacks target shopping streets in Iraqi capital.
Multiple car bombs targeting markets and shopping streets in Baghdad have killed at least 32 people, an interior ministry source said.
Another 78 people were wounded in the six bombings on Tuesday.
Four separate car bombs went off in eastern and southern districts of the capital in quick succession.
Two more car bombs exploded in markets of Husseiniya and Shaab neighourhoods in the north of the city.
Most of the attacks were in Shia neighbourhoods.
Violence increased
Bomb attacks have increased in Iraq since the start of the year. More than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in July, the highest monthly death toll since 2008, the United Nations said last week.
The Interior Ministry has said Iraq was facing an “open war” fuelled by sectarian violence and has ramped up security in the capital this week by closing roads and deploying additional police and helicopters.
Security forces have launched major operations targeting fighters in multiple provinces including Baghdad, during which they have arrested scores of people and seized weapons and explosives, according to the defence ministry.