BAGHDAD: A suicide car bomber killed at least 21 and injured dozens more Tuesday in a strike against a police crime lab in central Baghdad, a day after several hotels were also hit by suicide attacks, officials said.
The latest blast came as family members of the Saddam Hussein stalwart known as “Chemical Ali” arrived in Baghdad to collect his body for an afternoon burial. Ali Hassan Al-Majid was hanged Monday after a series of convictions for atrocities that included mass killings and crimes against humanity.
Rescue crews were combing through the rubble late into the evening looking for casualties of Tuesday’s bombing. Officials say the majority of those killed were police officers who worked in the forensic investigation office at Tahariyat Square in the central neighborhood of Karradah. At least 82 people were reported injured.
Police and hospital officials said the bomber in Tuesday’s attack tried to drive a pickup truck through a checkpoint and blast walls protecting the forensic evidence office.
Among those confirmed killed were 12 police officers and civilians who were visiting the office. Officials said more than half the wounded were police personnel.
The office targeted in the attack mainly deals with data collected during criminal investigations, including fingerprints and other pieces of evidence.
