On Wednesday, June 24, a rickshaw loaded with explosives caused a massive explosion in Sadr City, a Shiite area in Bagdad, killing over 70 people. At least 150 were wounded in the bombing which took place in an over-crowded market at 07 PM (local time). It is the third major attack in Iraq this month, bringing the death toll from violence to more than 160 Iraqis killed in May. The bombing comes just four days after the US military formally handed control of Sadr City to local forces and six days before the U.S. combat forces are supposed to withdraw from major Iraqi cities.
Although violence has decreased in Iraq since 2007, various armed groups are still able to strike with deadly results. Since several weeks, an upsurge on deadly violence is observed in the country: since May 1st, more than 160 people have been killed in a series of blast.
Despite improving security, such violence remains particularly common in the capital city Baghdad and in Mosul. Conditions in Iraq are extremely dangerous. The risk of terrorism directed against foreigners remains extremely high. Be aware that most western Embassies strongly urge their citizens against travel to Iraq.
