Iraq rocked with violence during Muslim feast, over 30 dead

GlobalPost

Bombs and militant attacks across Iraq today left over 30 people dead, reported the Associated Press.

The violence comes as Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, a four-day celebration that began on Friday.

Two car bombs killed some 20 people at a religious festival in a Shiite neighbourhood in Baghdad today, local officials told Reuters.

Another bomb struck near a children's play area on the capital's outskirts, killing eight -- four of them children -- while another explosion was reported at a market in Baghdad's eastern Bawiya neighborhood, the Associated Press cited local officials as saying. 

More from GlobalPost: Nearly 150 killed in Syria on first day of 'truce:' activists

Bawiya resident Bassem Mohammed, a father of three, told AP that everyone there feels feel "sad for the children who thought that they would spend a happy time during Eid, but instead ended up getting killed or hurt."

Police said a hidden bomb strapped to a bus carrying Shiite pilgrims also exploded today, leaving several dead, reported AP

Iraq's Mosul, a city in the north, saw armed militants breaking into the homes of the town's ethnically Turkomen, mostly Shiite Shabak community, reported BBC, killing several. 

Authorities had beefed up security ahead of the holiday, said AP.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.