At least three explosions shake Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A string of explosions rocked Kirkuk on Friday night at least three separate locations.

“A bomb exploded in Quds Street near Abrar Mosque; the casualties are not clear yet," Afrasiaw Kamil Wais, the spokesperson for Kirkuk Police, told Rudaw.

According to information obtained by Rudaw, the first explosion killed one person and injured seven others. 

A second explosion was confirmed by Iraqi intelligence services.

"Tonight a bomb exploded near some police officers in Baghdad Street. Eleven were injured including a woman and a child," the intelligence agency told Rudaw.


The third explosion occurred in Mosalla neighborhood near the Turkmen Front headquarters. Casualty figures were not immediately available. Local sources say two mortar shells targeted the building.

The Iraqi prime minister’s office security issues confirmed the three attacks in Kirkuk

“Because of the explosion in Quds Street, a woman was killed and 14 injured. In the second explosion one was killed. The third attack was without any casualties,” read a statement from the PM’s office.

 

The UN in Iraq "strongly condemned" Friday's bombing.

"This is yet another cowardly attack on innocent civilians as they went about their normal Ramadan business," stated Jan Kubis, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq.

He added that "those" who carried out that attack mustn't respect the holy month "which is meant to be a time of peace and celebrations."

"My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives and my wishes go to the injured for a speedy recovery," concluded Kubis.


Kirkuk is a diverse and disputed or Kurdistani city inhabited by Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and other components. It is claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil.

Recent attacks around the province have concerned Kurdish officials, who want Kurdish security forces and Peshmerga redeployed to help provide security.

 

Last updated at 12:37 p.m. on June 9, 2018