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Two blasts at Baghdad market kill 28, wound 54

Iraqis observe the aftermath of a double blast in a busy Baghdad market.
Iraqis observe the aftermath of a double blast in a busy Baghdad market.
(Sabah Arar / AFP/Getty Images)
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A pair of bomb blasts targeting a market in central Baghdad Saturday killed at least 28 people and wounded at least 54, according to police and medical officials.

The attacks took place early Saturday morning in al-Sinak, a busy market selling car accessories, food and clothes, as well as agricultural seeds and machinery.

Details were sketchy in the immediate aftermath. Police at first said a pair of back-to-back roadside bombs exploded. Later a police official said first a roadside bomb exploded, then a suicide bomber detonated his device amid the crowd that had gathered. Finally police concluded that the carnage was the work of a pair of suicide bombers.

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All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, confirming that the blasts came from a pair of suicide bombers.

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UPDATES:

3:05 a.m.: Updated with ISIS claiming responsibility.

12:00 a.m.: Updated with a death toll of 28.

This article was first published at 11:25 p.m. Dec. 30.

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