Bombing in eastern Baghdad: 8 Iraqi laborers killed

A bomb exploded alongside a group of Iraqi men waiting for work in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least eight and wounding more than 50, police officials said. Col. Ahmed Abboud, chief of police in the New Baghdad area where the explosion happened, cited eyewitnesses saying a man placed a bag full of explosives near a cart that sold tea to the workers.

"The people did not suspect him when he first came with the bag because all workers carry their food in bags," Abboud told The Associated Press. The attack happened at about 7 a.m. at an intersection crowded with bystanders and near the Sunni Muslim al-Samaraei mosque in the New Baghdad neighborhood. Police sealed off the area and the wounded were taken to several nearby hospitals. Abboud and another police official, Capt. Mohammed Jassim Jaber, said at least eight people were killed and more than 50 wounded.

Initial reports from multiple police officials claimed that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber wearing an explosives-packed belt. It was not immediately clear if the attacker was among those killed or wounded.

The victims were men waiting on the side of the road seeking daily work on construction sites, said another police official, Lt. Bilal Ali.

The blast shattered from many shops in the surrounding area and blood covered the pavement. Pink rubber gloves, blue overalls and white boots were among the belongings of the victims that scattered the area. It was unclear why the workers were targeted and the officials said there were no security forces near the scene of the bombing, reports the AP. I.L.