Two explosions kill another 25 people in Baghdad just hours after ISIS car bomb slaughters 64 outside a beauty salon in the capital's deadliest bombing of the year

  • Deadly wave of violence in Baghdad continues today with two more attacks
  • At least 25 people have been killed in separate bombings across the capital
  • ISIS claimed responsibility for an earlier deadly car bombing in Sadr City
  • This was the deadliest single bombing to occur in Baghdad so far this year
  • At least 64 people - mostly women - were killed, with another 50 injured
  • Officials denied ISIS claims the attack was the work of a 'suicide bomber'
  • See more news on ISIS militants at www.dailymail.co.uk/isis 

By Corey Charlton for MailOnline

Published: 05:39 EST, 11 May 2016 | Updated: 10:22 EST, 11 May 2016

Two separate car bombs have killed at least 25 people in Baghdad just hours after the Iraqi capital endured its worst single bombing of the year.

The explosions hit the Kadhimiya and Jamea districts, while earlier today a pickup truck packed with explosives and disguised as fruit truck slaughtered another 64 people in Sadr City.

It brings the total death toll of all three attacks to 89 and marks an unprecedented 24 hour period of bloodshed in the capital so far this year.

The initial bombing, which occurred outside a beauty salon in a packed marketplace in Sadr City, was claimed by ISIS and was the city's single worst bombing of 2016.

A bulldozer arrives at the scene of the marketplace explosion where an ISIS car bomb killed at least 64 people earlier today. The blast was followed by two more separate attacks in which another 25 were killed

A bulldozer arrives at the scene of the marketplace explosion where an ISIS car bomb killed at least 64 people earlier today. The blast was followed by two more separate attacks in which another 25 were killed

Crowds gather around the mangled wreckage of the pickup truck, which was disguised as a fruit transport

Crowds gather around the mangled wreckage of the pickup truck, which was disguised as a fruit transport

A car parked near the site of the bombing lies in ruins after the explosion blew off its windows and bumper

A car parked near the site of the bombing lies in ruins after the explosion blew off its windows and bumper

Two more vehicles parked nearby also lost their windscreens in the force of the explosion. Shrapnel holes can also be seen dotted across the vehicles' paintwork

Two more vehicles parked nearby also lost their windscreens in the force of the explosion. Shrapnel holes can also be seen dotted across the vehicles' paintwork

Residents inspect the scene of the bombing, which occurred outside a beauty salon in Sadr City, Baghdad

Residents inspect the scene of the bombing, which occurred outside a beauty salon in Sadr City, Baghdad

A witness said the vehicle entered the market and stopped outside a beauty salon before the driver fled and it exploded

A witness said the vehicle entered the market and stopped outside a beauty salon before the driver fled and it exploded

Now a second blast hit the entrance to Kadhimiya, a mostly Shi'ite Muslim district in the northwest of the Iraqi capital, killing 18 - five of whom were policemen - and wounding 34 others.

The third bombing of the day went off on a commercial thoroughfare in a predominately Sunni district of western Baghdad, killing seven and wounding 22.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the two later attacks. The death toll for both is expected to rise.

Earlier today, survivors in Sadr City described being thrown for several metres when the massive car bomb was detonated, while nearby vehicles and buildings were left badly damaged.

Most of the victims were women, and many of the estimated 50 wounded are in critical condition, Iraqi police and hospital sources said. 

The car bombing occurred in the Shi'ite Muslim district of Sadr City, Baghdad, and was immediately claimed by ISIS.

Amaq news agency, which supports ISIS, said a suicide bomber had targeted Shi'ite militia fighters, though Iraqi officials denied this.

The UN's top envoy in Iraq, Jan Kubis, condemned the bloodshed, saying: 'These are cowardly terrorist attacks on civilians who have done nothing but going about their normal daily lives.'

ISIS, which overran large areas in 2014, considers Shiites, who make up the majority of Iraq's population, to be heretics and often targets them with bombings.

Karim Salih, a 45-year old grocer, said the bomb was a pickup truck loaded with fruits and vegetables that was parked by a man who quickly disappeared among the crowds of people.

'It was such a thunderous explosion that jolted the ground,' Salih told AP. 'The force of the explosion threw me for meters and I lost conscious for a few minutes.

He suffered no injuries, but two of his workers were wounded.  

The vehicle, packed with hidden explosives, detonated killing or wounding more than 100 people and destroying nearby vehicles and buildings

The vehicle, packed with hidden explosives, detonated killing or wounding more than 100 people and destroying nearby vehicles and buildings

The bombing occurred in Sadr City, a predominantly Shiite suburb of Baghdad which has been targeted by ISIS

The bombing occurred in Sadr City, a predominantly Shiite suburb of Baghdad which has been targeted by ISIS

ISIS claimed immediate responsibility for the bombing - which occurred in the area because the terrorist group views Shiites and heretics

ISIS claimed immediate responsibility for the bombing - which occurred in the area because the terrorist group views Shiites and heretics

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard at the scene of the bombing. ISIS has been carrying out suicide and car bombings in recent weeks in order to distract from the battlefield losses they have incurred

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard at the scene of the bombing. ISIS has been carrying out suicide and car bombings in recent weeks in order to distract from the battlefield losses they have incurred

A local woman reacts to the scene of death and destruction with dismay

A local woman reacts to the scene of death and destruction with dismay

The bombing occurs just three months after back-to-back market bombings in the area killed 73 people

The bombing occurs just three months after back-to-back market bombings in the area killed 73 people

An Iraqi woman breaks down in tears as she looks at the damage caused by the ISIS bomber

An Iraqi woman breaks down in tears as she looks at the damage caused by the ISIS bomber

Debris, rubble and damaged vehicles remained near the scene today as locals looked on in horror

Debris, rubble and damaged vehicles remained near the scene today as locals looked on in horror

In its online statement, ISIS said it had carried out a suicide attack that targeted a gathering of Shiite militiamen.

ISIS also a controls significant area in northern and western Iraq, including Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul.

Commercial and public places in Shiite-dominated areas are among the most frequent targets for the Sunni militants seeking to undermine Iraqi government efforts to maintain security inside the capital. 

While ISIS has suffered a number of territorial defeats in the past year, the militants are still capable of launching significant attacks across the country, and have recently stepped-up assaults inside Baghdad, something officials say is an attempt to distract from their recent battlefield defeats.

In February, the group carried out devastating back-to-back market bombings in Sadr City, the stronghold of followers of an influential Shiite cleric.

That attack claimed the lives of at least 73 people.

According to the United Nations, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April due to ongoing violence. The U.N. mission to Iraq put the number of civilians killed at 410, while the rest it said were members of the security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded that month, UNAMI said.

In March, at least 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded in the ongoing violence.

Hundreds of residents gather at the scene of today's first bombing, which killed 64 and wounded another 50

Hundreds of residents gather at the scene of today's first bombing, which killed 64 and wounded another 50

Iraqis carry the coffin of a victim of the car bombing in Sadr City, which has killed at least 64 people

Iraqis carry the coffin of a victim of the car bombing in Sadr City, which has killed at least 64 people

A youngster helps load a coffin into the back of a car as a solitary tear runs down his cheek

A youngster helps load a coffin into the back of a car as a solitary tear runs down his cheek

A man salvages items from inside a shop destroyed by the massive bomb blast

A man salvages items from inside a shop destroyed by the massive bomb blast

Iraqis inspect the damage caused to the populated marketplace after the 'ISIS' bomber detonated the vehicle

Iraqis inspect the damage caused to the populated marketplace after the 'ISIS' bomber detonated the vehicle

Nearby shops, such as the one pictured, were damaged by the massive blast which wounded scores of people

Nearby shops, such as the one pictured, were damaged by the massive blast which wounded scores of people

Two men mourn those killed and injured in what was the deadliest single bomb blast to hit Baghdad so far this year

Two men mourn those killed and injured in what was the deadliest single bomb blast to hit Baghdad so far this year

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