Iraq’s prime minister says Diyala bombing despicable crime

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has condemned the bomb attack by the Takfiri ISIL terrorists in the eastern province of Diyala, saying the blast makes the Iraqi people more united in the fight against terrorism.

On Friday, a car bomb explosion killed at least 115 people, including women and children, in Diyala. The attack was carried out as people were celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Iraqi premier condemned the attack as a “despicable crime” and vowed that the army backed by volunteer forces will continue fighting the terrorists to push them out of the country.

“We are determined to hunt them down on the battlefield and in every corner of Iraq until we get rid of the last terrorist,” Abadi said.

People look at a crater left by a car bomb attack carried out the previous day by ISIL militants in the city of Khan Bani Sa’ad, Diyala Province, July 18, 2015. ©AFP

The Russian Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the blast and offered condolences to Iraqi people. Moscow reaffirmed support for Iraq’s anti-terror campaign and urged the international community to join hands to stop terrorism in the region.

The Friday bombing was carried out at a market in the center of Khan Bani Sa’ad, a city located about 30 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack which also left dozens of people injured.

The Iraqi government has announced three days of national mourning following the deadly blast.