Baghdad (Rooters) - A suicide bomber killed 45 people and wounded scores in central Baghdad today after luring a crowd of poor day labourers to his vehicle with promises of work, the Interior Ministry said.Police said 148 people were wounded when the bomber's vehicle exploded at 7am (1500 AEDT) in Tayran Square, sending a cloud of black smoke into the sky.
Gunfire sounded immediately after the blast.
Tayran Square is typically a gathering point for carpenters, plumbers, brick-layers, painters and other workers in the construction trade who frequent the cafes and street vendors in the early morning while waiting for the chance of some work.
About 90 minutes later, a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol, but the Interior Ministry said there were no casualties in that incident.
A third explosion rocked the centre of the city shortly afterwards, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Update: Dual Bombing in Central Baghdad Kills 57
Suspected insurgents set off two bombs in a main square of central Baghdad where scores of Iraqis were waiting for jobs as day laborers on Tuesday, killing at least 57 people and wounding 151, police said.
The carefully coordinated attack in Tayaran Square at 7 a.m. involved a parked car bomb and a suicide attacker who drove up in a minibus, pretended to hire day laborers, then set off his explosive as they got into his vehicle, said police Lt. Bilal Ali.
The simultaneous explosions, which occurred about 100 feet apart, shattered windows in store fronts, left crafters and blood stains in the road, and set fire to least 10 other cars.
At least 57 Iraqis, including seven policemen, were killed in the attack and 151 people wounded, Ali said.
More at Update link...