At least 79 people have been killed and 131 injured in an explosion claimed by the Islamic State group in Baghdad, Iraqi police say. A car bomb exploded near a restaurant and shopping area in the central district of Karrada late on Saturday. The hardline Sunni jihadist group claimed responsibility for the car bomb in Karrada in a online statement distributed by supporters. The bombings, among the deadliest in Iraq this year, come a week after Iraqi security forces recaptured the city of Falluja from Islamic State (IS) militants. Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was met by angry crowds while visiting the scene of the blast on Sunday.

Source: The Star July 03, 2016 11:37 UTC