Ten security officers detained over deadly Baghdad blasts

Baghdad, August 20: Ten police and military officers are being held for questioning in Wednesday’s coordinated attacks in central Baghdad, which left around 100 dead and 1,200 injured, media reports said Thursday.

“Security officials in Bab al-Moazzam and al-Salihiya areas have been detained and will be interrogated over the terrorist attacks that took place in their districts,” said a statement from the Iraqi military’s Baghdad Operations Command, published in al-Sabah daily newspaper.

Some 10 explosions – a combination of car bombs, explosive devices and mortars – rocked the city Wednesday, targeting government buildings.

A powerful car bomb caused extensive damage near the Ministry of Finance, shattering windows for blocks and severely damaging the central artery of Mohammed al-Qassem street.

A second car bomb exploded close to the Foreign Ministry, near the heavily protected Green Zone, the site of most foreign embassies.

Other bombs went off near the ministries of health, trade, education and housing in the deadliest wave of attacks since US troops withdrew from the city on June 30.

—–Agencies