BAGHDAD, 22 January, 2021, (TON): Iraqi authorities say two suicide bombers blew themselves up in Tayaran Square in the centre of Baghdad clothing market, killing at least 35 people and wounding over 100. After a suicide-bomber blew himself up at the market in Baghdad Thursday, a second bomber blew himself up as a crowd of bystanders gathered, causing further casualties.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an urgent meeting with top security commanders to discuss Thursday’s attacks, the premier’s office said in a brief statement. Iraqi security forces were deployed and key roads blocked to prevent possible further attacks.

Following the urgent meeting, Kadhimi sacked key security and police commanders, deputy interior minister for intelligence affairs, director of counter terrorism and intelligence in the interior ministry and commander of federal police forces, said a military spokesman in a statement.

An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters the death toll was at least 23, with that number expected to rise as some of those wounded were in critical condition.

Baghdad Security Operations Chief Gen. Tahseen al-Khafajy told state TV that the second bomber deliberately tried to draw a large crowd to the scene of the first explosion to cause a maximum number of casualties.

Iraqi armed forces spokesman General Yehya Rassoul claimed that the two suicide bombers "blew themselves up as military intelligence forces were closing in on them."

The United States embassy in Iraq also strongly condemned the attack saying it reprehensible act of cowardice that underscores the dangers of terrorism that millions of Iraqis continue to face.

Iraqi authorities did not immediately say who they believed was behind the bombing, but called it a terrorist incident.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Suicide bombings have been rare in the Iraqi capital since the defeat of the State militant group in 2017. This is the first major such incidents in the Iraqi capital in the past 18 months.