Turkey’s PM offers support to Iraqi leader after attack

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim described Daesh as “common scourge” in a telephone call to his Iraqi counterpart after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for a deadly car bomb attack Sunday in Baghdad.

Yildirim offered his condolences to Haider al-Abadi during the conversation, according to a Prime Ministry source who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media.

The Turkish prime minister said his country was ready to provide any support to the wounded and added that Iraq’s territorial integrity was important.

A car bomb hit al-Karada, a busy shopping district in central Baghdad, early Sunday, killing at least 150 victims, while a separate blast killed five others at a market in the al-Shaab neighborhood.

The al-Karada attack was claimed by Daesh but conflicting reports have emerged about the cause of the second attack. Some have said it was another bombing, however, government officials have claimed it was the result of a fire.

The attack in Baghdad occurred just days after terrorists killed 45 victims at Istanbul’s main airport on Tuesday in an attack blamed on Daesh.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Handan Kazanci contributed to this report from Istanbul.