Four killed in Baghdad cafe bombing, Iraqi police say
Suicide bomber detonates explosive belt while surrounded by police in Shiite neighborhood as people gather to break Ramadan fast
BAGHDAD, Iraq — At least four people were killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomber struck a cafe in Baghdad where people had gathered after breaking their daily Ramadan fast, police said Thursday.
“A suicide bomber blew up his explosive belt while he was surrounded by police near a public garden in Al-Shoala district,” a mainly Shiite northern neighborhood of the capital, a security forces statement said.
A police source told AFP four people had been killed and 16 others wounded in the overnight bombing, including members of the security services.
Images from the scene circulated on social media showed police vehicles with their bodywork damaged and windows blown out.
Cafes in Iraq are particularly busy at night during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, with families and friends gathering to relax and eat before the fast re-starts at dawn.
Iraq in December claimed victory over the Islamic State group after a grueling campaign to retake swaths of territory captured by the Sunni jihadists, but IS still carries out sporadic bombings.