Death toll from Sunday Baghdad blast hits 292: Ministry

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD

The death toll from Sunday's massive car-bomb attack in Iraqi capital Baghdad now stands at 292, Iraqi Health Minister Adila Hamoud said Thursday.

According to Hamoud, another 200 people were injured by the blast, responsibility for which was claimed by the Daesh terrorist group.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared three days of mourning in the wake of the attack, which occurred in Baghdad’s central Al-Karada district before dawn on Sunday.

The bombing was swiftly claimed by Daesh, which in 2014 overran vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

Visiting the blast site in the wake of the attack, al-Abadi attributed the deadly bombing to the terrorist group’s recent territorial losses.

"The terrorists carried out this bombing… after being crushed at the battle of Fallujah," he said.

The city of Fallujah was recaptured from Daesh by Iraqi forces last week.

*Anadolu Agency’s Can Erozden contributed to this report.