At least 20 killed in fresh bombing in central Baghdad available (Roundup)

Jan 26, 2010, 13:36 GMT

Baghdad - At least 20 people were killed and 80 injured in a fresh bombing in central Baghdad on Tuesday, police and witnesses said, a day after three car bombs killed dozens in the city centre.

The bombing targeted the Interior Ministry's Criminal Evidence Department in the central neighbourhood of al-Karradah, witnesses told the German Press Agency dpa.

Witnesses said a man attempted to drive a pickup truck through a security checkpoint in front of the building, but was stopped before detonating explosives packed into the vehicle.

The target of Tuesday's attack is next to the Interior Ministry building that houses the force responsible for terrorism-related investigations.

The explosion knocked down portions of blast walls in front of the building and destroyed much of the building's facade, shattering windows and ripping doors from their hinges.

Emergency workers frantically searched the rubble for survivors.

The attack took place not far from the scene of a series of attacks on hotels Monday in a heavily guarded area frequented by visiting businessmen and foreign journalists.

The first blast hit the Ishtar hotel. A second hit the Palestine Meridien hotel, while the third hit an area near the Babil Oberoi and Hamra hotels.

According to the Ministry of Health, 15 people were killed and 58 injured Monday. Medics however told dpa that at least 38 people had been killed and 74 injured in that blast.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for either attack, but Iraqi military spokesman Qassim Atta blamed 'remnants of the former regime' for the attacks.

Tensions have been particularly high in the capital in the weeks leading up to parliamentary elections, now scheduled for March 7.

Two weeks ago, a major security sweep netted tons of explosives and 25 men suspected of planning car bombings in the city. The tight security set Baghdad residents' nerves on edge and prompted rumours, quickly denied by the government, that there had been an attempted coup.