SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Pope Francis, who is scheduled to visit Iraq in March, on Thursday condemned a twin suicide bombing that killed at least 32 people in a Baghdad market as a “senseless act of brutality”.
In a message sent in his name to the Iraqi president, the pope gave no indication as to whether the bombing would affect his planned trip, according to Reuters.
“In deploring this senseless act of brutality, he [the pope] prays for the deceased victims and their families, for the injured and for the emergency personnel in attendance,” the message said.
It said the pope hoped that Iraq could continue to work to overcome violence with “fraternity, solidarity and peace.”.
Francis is scheduled to make the first trip by a pope to Iraq on March 5-8, visiting Baghdad and four other towns.
Iraqi ministry of health said at least 32 people were killed and 110 others were wounded in the blasts.
Suicide attacks, once an almost daily occurrence in the Iraqi capital, have halted in recent years since Islamic State (ISIS) fighters were defeated in 2017, part of an overall improvement in security that has brought normal life back to Baghdad.
“Daesh terrorist groups might be standing behind the attacks,” Civil Defence chief Major General Kadhim Salman told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
Thursday’s attack took place in the same market that was struck in the last big attack, in January, 2018, when at least 27 people were killed.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an urgent meeting with top security commanders to discuss Thursday’s suicide attacks, the premier’s office said in a brief statement.
Iraqi security forces were deployed and key roads blocked to prevent possible further attacks.
