Amid mourning: Baghdad bombing toll goes up to 213

Iraqis voice anger at the government’s inability to keep residents safe.

BAGHDAD: The death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing in Baghdad claimed by the Islamic State (IS) crossed 200 as more bodies were pulled from the rubble on Monday.

As Iraq marked three days of national mourning for the deadliest bombing of the year, security and medical officials told AFP the number of dead from the attack had risen to at least 213. More than 200 were also wounded.

The blast sparked infernos in nearby buildings, and emergency personnel and family and friends of the victims were still searching for those missing following the explosion.

Hussein Ali, a former soldier, said six workers at his family’s shop burned beyond recognition.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced efforts to address longstanding flaws in Baghdad security measures following the blast, which came a week after Iraqi forces recaptured the city of Fallujah from IS.

But on the streets of the capital, Iraqis were angry at the government’s inability to keep residents safe.

“The government is a failure,” said a woman who gave her name as Umm Alaa, who lost her apartment in the attack.

A member of the civil defence forces said it would take days to recover the bodies of the victims.

But the premier struck a conciliatory tone. “I understand the emotional feelings and actions that occurred in a moment of sadness and anger,” Abadi said in a statement in reaction to people throwing rocks at his convoy.

With thousands of vehicles moving in and out of the city each day, such bombings are difficult to prevent.

IS said the blast targeted Iraq’s Shia majority.

Iraqi authorities executed five convicts on Monday, linking the timing of the executions to the Baghdad suicide bombing.

The justice ministry said it wanted bereaved families to know “their brothers in the justice ministry are continuing to deliver just punishment to those whose hands are stained with the blood of Iraqis”.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.