Suicide Bombs Kill Dozens in Iraq, Pakistan

Two suicide bombings in Pakistan and Iraq have killed at least 70 people and injured 100.

South of Baghdad, a suicide truck bombing killed 61 people on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

In northwest Pakistan, a suicide bomber attacked an entrance to a court on Monday. The AP reported 11 people are dead in that attack.

The Islamic State, or IS, claimed responsibility for the bombing in Hillah. The town is about 95 kilometers from Baghdad.

Suicide attacks claimed by IS killed more than 170 people in the past months, according to AP.

Sunday’s bombing was the third bombing in more than a week against security forces and the country’s Shiite majority.

In the Pakistani town of Shabqadar, police, women and children were killed and wounded.

The attacker tried to enter the court. Security officials intercepted him. When police tried to grab him, the bomb was detonated.

Pakistani security official Tariq Hassan said: “One of the police officials grabbed [the bomber]. … In the struggle, the suicide bomber was left fully confused … to locate his target before blowing himself up.”

A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban named Jamut-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility.

Two policemen and a policewoman were among the dead in the Pakistan bombing, the police reported.

I’m Dorothy Gundy.

Ayaz Gul wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

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