Turkey condemns twin bombing in Iraqi capital

By Ilker Girit

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey has condemned the deadly twin bombing which hit Baghdad on Saturday.

"We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack at a time when Iraq has made significant strides in the fight against Daesh terrorism," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Turkey said it would continue to stand behind the Iraqi government and its people in the fight against terror.

At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured in the twin bombing claimed by Daesh, according to security and health officials.

Two suicide bombers detonated their devices near a spare-parts shop in Al-Sinak market in central Baghdad, police officer Ahmed Khalaf told Anadolu Agency.

Hamid al-Gammal of the Baghdad health department said 24 people were killed, including the two bombers.

“At least 38 people were also injured in the bombing,” he said.

Al-Sinak market is usually teeming with shoppers and daily laborers unloading vans and wheeling carts around.

Daesh swiftly claimed responsibility for the double attack.

The Daesh-linked Amaq news agency said the bombing had targeted a gathering of Shia.

Saturday’s blasts came amid a wide-ranging offensive launched by the Iraqi army to recapture Mosul from Daesh.

Iraq’s second-largest city in terms of population, Mosul was overrun -- along vast swathes of territory in both northern and western Iraq -- by Daesh in 2014.