The Iraqi Interior Ministry has blamed al-Qaeda for a series of blasts in six cities on Thursday that took the lives of at least 40 people and injured more than 100, the Arabic internet portal Elaf reported.
A series of blasts occurred almost simultaneously in the cities of Kirkuk, Baghdad, Samarra, Baqubah, Dibis and Taji. All together 14 mined vehicles, 12 explosive devices, and three suicide bombers exploded in the cities.
"The terrorists from al-Qaeda who detonated these explosives want to show their local supporters that they have not been completely annihilated by Iraqi security forces that have seriously struck back at [terrorists] lately," the Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the casualties were all civilians.
