An array of car bombs and suicide bombs went off Thursday morning in Baghdad and northern Iraqi communities killing at least 61 people during a major holiday, the Associated Press reported.
The attacks occurred during the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, and are known as a time for family celebrations and outings. The explosions went off in succession right after sunset as families were heading out to celebrate the holidays, the AP reported.
There were a total of nine car bomb explosions including one near a playground which killed two children, according to the AP. Most of the blasts occurred in mainly Shiite Muslim parts of Baghdad. There was attack in the Shabak village near Mosul, 360 kilometers northwest of Baghdad that killed 15 people and wounded 52, the AP reported.
A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a police checkpoint in the District of Dora, killing five people including three police officers and wounding nine others, according to the AP.
Another suicide bomber struck in a café in Tuz Khormato killing three and wounding 28. The bomber set off an explosives belt inside the café, according to the AP. In the Shiite neighborhood of Husseiniyah, two car bombs exploded back to back killing a total of 11 and wounding 22.
Two parked car bombs exploded near an outdoor market and shops in the mixed Shiite and Christian neighborhood of Garage al-Amana, killing eight and wounding 15, the AP reported.
Other mainly Shiite neighborhoods hit were the southeastern New Baghdad, where four died and 12 were wounded, and the eastern Sadr City, where a car bomb near a playground killed five, including two children, and wounded 16. Another car bomb exploded near a restaurant in the northeastern Shiite neighborhood of Gareat, killing seven and wounding 14, the AP reported.
These string of attacks have been the most deadly since Oct. 5 when a suicide bombing targeted Shiite pilgrims which left 75 dead. The United Nations is condemning the attacks and is calling for urgent action and strengthened security cooperation, the AP reported.
"The United Nations pays particular attention to the protection of minority communities who continue suffering from heinous attacks (and) economic and social barriers," the United Nations told the AP.
There have been no official claims of responsibility for the attacks.
