Death toll in Baghdad’s Karrada bombing rises to 324

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The death toll from the massive bombing in Baghdad’s Karrada neighbourhood on July 3 has risen to 324, Iraq’s health minister confirmed on Sunday. 

Adela Hamoud, minister of health and environment, said that forensic teams are still working to identify bodies and expect the death toll could still rise. 

“208 corpses of the Karrada blast are still unidentified because they were burnt,” Hamoud said.

A truck laden with explosives was blown up early in the morning, targeting the popular shopping district busy with families just a few days before the Muslim Eid feast. The blast set building in the area on fire and many of the victims burned to death, making identification of the victims a challenge. 

It was the single most deadly attack in Baghdad this year and set off protests against the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who many blame for failing to protect the people. 

Since the Karrada bombing, 209 people have been killed in Baghdad in 3 suicide bombings, one car bombing, and by improvised explosives devices (IEDs), mortars and gunfire, according to Iraq Body Count which tracks deaths by violence in the country. Violence in Baghdad is a daily occurrence.