Car bomb at Iraqi market kills 17 people, wounds dozens

10/12/2013

BAGHDAD — A car bombing at a market in Iraq killed 17 people today, wounding dozens of others in the latest outbreak of violence to hit the country.

Police officials said a pickup truck exploded at night at the entrance of a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the city of Samarra, 60 miles north of the capital.

They said at least 35 people were wounded and that several shops were damaged in the attack.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Iraq since attacks began accelerating in April following a deadly security crackdown against a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawija.

The latest surge in violence has raised fears that Iraq could be returning to widespread sectarian killings similar to those that brought country to the edge of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

Places such as markets, cafes and mosques have been favorite targets for Sunni insurgents who aim at undermining the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

Medical officials in nearby hospital confirmed the casualty figures. All officials provided details of the violence on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release the information.