Death toll rises to 200 in Iraq’s single deadliest attack

TIL Desk/World/Baghdad-The death toll in the brazen Saturday night attack in Baghdad has mounted to over 200. The attack took place in the heart of the packed Karrada neighborhood killed at least 200 people, including 25 children and 20 women.

Families had been gathering hours after they broke the fast for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and prepared for Eid al-Fitr — the day that marks the end of the holiday this week. As people congregated, shopped and watched soccer matches, the bomb-laden truck plowed into a building housing a coffee shop, stores and a gym.

Firefighters rescued wounded and trapped people in adjacent buildings. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. It was the latest in a string of assaults during Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayer for Muslims and also a time when jihadists launch operations against those they regard as their enemies.