Two suicide bombers detonated bombs inside a restaurant frequented by Baghdad police on Thursday morning, killing at least 33 people and injuring 19, police said.
The blast echoed through central Baghdad at about 9.45am local time, when police officers usually stop by for breakfast.
Police Major Abdel-Hussein Minsef said two bombers entered the restaurant and detonated bombs strapped to their bodies, leaving seven police officers and 26 civilians dead and 19 others injured.
The restaurant, located near the Sheraton and Palestine hotels in central Baghdad, was immediately cordoned off after the attack.
Samiya Mohammed, a housewife who lives nearby, said she rushed outside when she heard the explosion.
”I went out to see the restaurant heavily damaged. There was bodies, mostly civilians, and blood everywhere inside the place.
”This is a criminal act that only targeted and hurt innocent people having their breakfast,” she said.
There were no Americans in the area, she said.
”I do not understand why most of the time it is the Iraqis who are killed,” she added. — Sapa-AP, AFP