Deadly car bomb targets Baghdad mall

At least eight people have been killed in an attack on a shopping centre in the Iraqi capital, state TV reports.

Gunmen charged into al-Jawhara mall in Bahdad after a car bomb exploded outside, Reuters news agency reported.

It added that hostages were taken in the incident that started in the southeast of the city of Monday evening and has left at least 19 people injured.

Officials estimate that about 50-75 people were trapped in the mall, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Security forces have set up a cordon around the mall, which is located in the largely Shia Muslim area of New Baghdad.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has claimed previous attacks inside the capital.
 [aljazeera.com]
11/1/16