7 killed in 2 suicide bombings in Baghdad

Up to seven people were killed and 31 others injured in two suicide bomb attacks at a Shiite mosque in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Thursday, an Interior Ministry source said.

The attacks occurred after the sunset during the evening prayer when two suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests at the gate of al-Rasoul al-Adham mosque at the predominantly Shiite district of Shula in northwestern Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The guards at the entrance of the mosque discovered the two suicide bombers and opened fire on them, forcing them to blow up their vests at the gate, killing themselves in addition to seven people from the guards and the worshipers, while 31 others were wounded, the source said.

"The toll could be much higher if the two suicide bombers managed to enter inside the crowded mosque," the source added.

The blasts caused damages to several nearby shops and buildings and set destroyed several cars outside the mosque, the source said.

Iraq is currently witnessing a wave of violence since the IS terrorist group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014.

Earlier, an UNAMI report estimated about 22,370 (7,515 killed and 14,855 injured) in the armed conflict in Iraq during the 12 months of 2015, according to figures obtained from UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Enditem