The death toll from a huge bombing at a Shia neighborhood in Iraqs capital Baghdad last month has risen to323, Iraqs health minister says.
Health MinisterAdela Hamoud said on Monday that thetollcould climb further as forensic teams are still working to identify bodies. This also comes as more people, initially registered as missing, were identified as among the dead.
"One hundred and fifteen martyrs were identified directly after the bombing by their families," Hamoud told a televised news conference.
However, the identity of 208 more victims whose bodies were burned beyond recognition were sent for DNA testing, Hamoud noted.
In the initial days after the attack, the reported death toll was at least 292 people including many children.
The attack was carried out on July 3 when a bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at a shopping district in Baghdads Shia neighborhood of Karradah. The attack was followed bya second explosion.
The deadly blast took place in Karradah area while families were shopping for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy Muslimfasting month of Ramadan.
In a twitter post, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Mourners carry the coffin of an Iraqi man, who was killed in a bombing that ripped through Baghdad's busy shopping district of Karradah on July 3, during a funeral procession at the site of the attack on July 6, 2016. (AFP photo)[/caption]Following the deadly bomb blast, senior Iraqi officials announced measures to address security flaws in the capital, including the scrapping of fake detectors, accelerated installing of scanning devices at entrances to Baghdad,and increased aerial reconnaissance and coordination among security forces.
Iraqs Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabbanstepped down from his position after the deadly bombing.
The bomb attackcame a few days after Iraqi forces fully liberated the strategic city of Fallujah, situated roughly 69 kilometers west of Baghdad, from Daesh terrorists.
Having suffered heavy losses on the battlefield against Iraqi soldiers, Daesh has recently stepped up its terror attacks across Baghdad.
By Press TV
