In Baiji, located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad, a car bomb went off after the bomber was stopped by both police and the local militias. The car bombing resulted in the deaths of 20 people.
The car bomb hit people waiting to buy gas cylinders in a residential area. Both women and children were amongst the casualties. According to witnesses, the attack was directed towards the security checkpoint on a road leading to the where employees of the Northern Oil Company were taking up residence.
In the last two years, Baiji has been relatively quiet. This is a mostly Sunni-populated area in the Salahuddin province. BBC explains that this area is being targeted due to the number of US-backed Sunni militias popping up.
In Baquba, 10 people were killed in another suicide bombing. The suicide bombing took place at a funeral for a father and son who were part of one of the Sunni Arab Muslim groups allied to the United States forces dedicated to fighting against Al-Qaeda. Many of the militias have turned against Al-Qaeda.
The bomber wore a vest packed with explosives. According to the police, 21 members of the local militia were wounded. In a twist, the father and son were killed by US troops by mistake.
Sunni radicals have continued let alone increase their assaults on the neighborhood patrols.
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