BAGHDAD — Two suicide bombers detonated explosive vests in a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 15 people in the first such attack in several years, according to Iraq’s interior ministry.
“The first suicide bomber blew himself up after pretending to be sick to gather people around him,” said Maj. Gen. Khalid al Muhanna, a spokesman for the ministry. He said the bomber had fallen to the ground and then detonated the vest after people rushed to help him. The second bomber detonated his explosive nearby minutes later.
The interior ministry said there were at least 15 people confirmed dead and at least 28 wounded, though the health ministry reported a higher toll.
A health ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said there were at least 25 were dead and 72 injured.
