Egypt has condemned "in the strongest terms" a terrorist attack on Monday that killed at least 16 people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

 

The blast was the result of a Daesh suicide bomber who detonated an explosive device at a popular central Baghdad ice-cream shop.

In an official statement on Tuesday, the Egyptian foreign ministry expressed its condolences to the Iraqi government and the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The statement expressed Egypt’s full solidarity with Iraq in fighting terrorist forces that seek to undermine security and stability, while supporting all procedures taken to tackle terrorism.

“Egypt is adamant in its stance on the necessity of unified international efforts to fight terrorism, and the importance of finding a comprehensive approach to stop the propagation of such phenomena as well as its ability to attract new recruitsand drying out sources of financing,” the statement read.

On Monday evening, a Daesh-affiliated bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle targeting Shia Muslims in the Karrada district of Baghdad, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more.

Daesh issued a statement claiming the attack, identifying the bomber as an Iraqi who was targeting Shia Muslims.

Daesh considers members of Iraq's Shia Muslim majority – including the women and children who were victims of the Karrada blast – to be heretics, and frequently carries out attacks against them.

The bomber struck just days after the start of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during which Iraqis often stay out late shopping or socialising after breaking their daily fast

Source: Ahram online