June 6 (UPI) — An explosion at an ammunitions cache near a Mosque in eastern Baghdad left dozens of people dead or injured Wednesday, Iraqi security officials said.
An Interior Ministry source told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency the blast went off at a house used as an explosives warehouse near a Shiite mosque in Sadr City neighborhood.
Casualty tolls in the immediate aftermath of the blast were in flux, with a security official telling Alghad Press at least 20 people died and up to 110 were injured. Xinhua’s source said there were 14 deaths and 90 injuries.
The blast destroyed the warehouse and damaged five other nearby houses.
Authorities launched an investigation into whether the blast was an attack or accident.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, though the Islamic State militant group has launched attacks in the city in the past.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.