At least 28 people have been killed and 70 others injured in a twin suicide bombing Baghdad, Iraq. The explosions took place at a crowded commercial area of the city, when the bombers blew themselves up at a clothing market in Tayaran Square.

The BBC reports that they were being pursued by security forces.

While no responsibility has been claimed for the incident, ISIS is being blamed. Civil Defence chief Major General, Kadhim Salman, said, “[IS] terrorist groups might be standing behind the attacks.”

A statement by Iraq’s interior ministry said the first bomber rushed into the market, claiming to be unwell, and detonated an explosive belt when people gathered around him. Meanwhile, according to the BBC, a stall holder said, “One [bomber] came, fell to the ground and started complaining ‘my stomach is hurting’ and he pressed the detonator in his hand. It exploded immediately. People were torn to pieces.” The second bomber reportedly detonated his device as others came to help the victims.

According to the BBC, suicide bombings have become uncommon in Baghdad, since the military defeat of ISIS. However, a report by the UN secretary-general, released last August, estimated that more than 10 000 ISIS fighters were still active in Iraq and Syria.

Al Jazeerah, meanwhile, reports that Sajad Jiyad, an Iraq analyst and fellow at The Century Foundation think-tank, said, “This kind of attack bears the hallmark of ISIS who have targeted crowded civilian areas in Baghdad with suicide attacks many times in the past.” Jiyad added, “This shows a security failure by the government who have been warned that ISIS is still active,…”

110 people have been left wounded.

Umm Muhammed Umar