Just days after bloody attacks blamed on ISIS claimed scores of lives in Brussels, today dozens more people were killed by an ISIS-claimed terrorist at a soccer stadium near Baghdad.
Agence-France Presse was among the first to report that a suicide bomber “blew himself up on football pitch as trophies were being presented after a local tournament south of Baghdad Friday” At least 30 were said to have been killed in the blast, which hit as supporters, officials and security forces gathered after a game. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
“They were just handing the trophy to the winners, the suicide attacker blew himself up in the crowd,” a police captain from the village, Al-Asriya, told AFP.
The village is near Iskandariyah, a town about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the capital.
The police captain said more than 65 people were also wounded in the blast.
A medic at Iskandariyah hospital confirmed the toll and warned it could rise further.
Pictures posted on social media of the site of the blast showed mangled goal posts smeared with blood.
“The suicide bomber cut through the crowd to approach the centre of the gathering and blew himself up as the mayor was presenting awards to the players,” said Ali Nashmi, a 18-year-old eyewitness.
Football pitch suicide attack kills 30 south of Baghdad [AFP]