A blast at Baghdad Mosque kills 28

A terrorist attack on the largest Sunni Mosque in Baghdad has killed 29 worshippers, leaving 38 others severely wounded.


The blast occurred during an evening prayer ritual at the blue-domed building at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Sunday, AP reported, citing statements by local police and hospital officials in Baghdad.

“Parliament lawmaker Khalid al-Fahdawi is among the dead” noted, Major Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, a spokesman for Baghdad's military operations command.

The senior Iraqi military official further confirmed that “the attack took place inside the Um al-Qura mosque during prayers in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Jamiaah.”

Local military officials said the mosque's security was provided by the government-backed Sunni Endowment, raising the possibility that the bomber had inside help.

"There's no doubt there must have been someone inside the mosque who helped the bomber. It must have been someone who was protecting the mosque”, al-Moussawi said.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, although the bombing method resembled an al-Qaida hallmark.

The bombing comes as Iraqi authorities have been resisting intense pressure by Washington to extend its military presence in the country past the December 2011 deadline.

Local observers widely suspect that US military may be behind the recent wave of bombings in the country using the influence and network it developed during its all-out occupation of the country that began in 2003.