Ramadan Bomb Blasts Kill Families Eating Ice Cream, Commuters in Baghdad

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a Ramadan bomb blast near an ice cream shop in Baghdad that left dozens of families with children dead and injured.

A car parked nearby the shop detonated, sending fiery balls into the shop. Moments later, the streets were littered with walking wounded and bloody body parts.

From Fox News:

“ISIS militants on Monday claimed responsibility for a deadly nighttime bombing outside a popular ice cream shop in central Baghdad where families with children were enjoying a late-night snack after breaking their fast for Ramadan.

“Iraqi officials have raised the death toll to 15.

“A closed-circuit camera video of the explosion shows a busy downtown avenue, with cars driving down the street when a massive blast strikes.

“Then, a huge fireball engulfs a building, forcing the cars to scramble to get away. Videos of the attack posted on social media show wounded and bloodied people crying for help on the sidewalk outside the ice cream parlor.”

Hours later, a second bomb blast from a car killed and wounded several more in a busy, rush hour street area of Baghdad.

The bomb detonated near the state-run Public Pension Office in the Shawaka area, killing at least 12 and wounding 23.

From ABC News:

“The attacks came just days into the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast during daylight hours. After sundown, families break their fast and Baghdad’s restaurants and cafes quickly fill up with people staying up long into the night.

“During Ramadan last year, another section of Karrada was hit by massive suicide bombing that killed almost 300 people, the deadliest single attack in the Iraqi capital in 13 years of war. The attack was also claimed by IS.

“Details of how the militants managed to stage Tuesday’s attacks were not immediately clear. After last year’s attack, Iraqi authorities stepped up security in Karrada, especially in the area of the bombing.”