Residents celebrate the victory of
Iraq's soccer team over South Korea during the semi-final of the 2007 AFC
Asian Cup soccer tournament, in Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) south of
Baghdad, July 25, 2007.[Reuters]
|
Two suicide car bombings struck Iraqi soccer fans taking to the streets to
celebrate Iraqi football team's victory in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at
least 55 people and injuring 135 others, police said.
An attacker detonated his explosives-laden car among a crowd of jubilant
Iraqi football fans celebrating in Mansour district in western Baghdad after
Iraq defeated South Korea 4-3 on penalties and made it into the 14th Asian Cup
final, a police source told Xinhua.
The deadly bombing killed at least 30 people and wounding 75 others,
according to the source. Earlier, the source put the death toll at 10, with 60
others injured.
In eastern Baghdad, another suicide car bombing attacked an Iraqi Army
checkpoint in Ghader district, killing at least 25 people and injuring 60 other,
the source said, adding that most of the victims are soccer fans.
The historic victory of Iraqi football team sparked wild celebrations in
Baghdad. Many citizens rushed into the streets and fired in the air while
motorists honking their horns. Thousands of fans gathered in central Baghdad to
celebrate, singing and chanting "Iraq, Iraq!"
After Iraqi football players entered the semi-finals of the Asia Cup on July
21, gunfire of celebrations killed two people and wounded 15 others in Baghdad.