Iraq twin blasts: Death toll from Islamic State bombing of Baghdad market now at 73

A soldier walks at the site of suicide blasts in Baghdad’s Sadr City Iraq February 28, 2016. The death toll from two suicide blasts in Baghdad’s mainly Shi’ite district of Sadr City rose to 70 with more than 100 others wounded, police and medical sources said on Sunday. (Source: Reuters)

In Iraq, the death toll from devastating back-to-back market bombings carried out by the Islamic State group the previous day in eastern Baghdad climbed to 73 today, officials said.

Several of the critically wounded died overnight while 112 people remain in hospital, two police officials said. Also, at least five people were still missing after the blast that ripped through the crowded Mredi market in the Shiite district of Sadr City, followed by a suicide bombing amid the crowd that had quickly gathered at the site to help the victims.

Three medical officials confirmed the latest death toll, which rose from the toll of 59 reported late Sunday. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Iraq’s Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, called on security forces to “exert further efforts to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their crimes against innocent civilians.”