Terrorism In Iraq: Suicide Bombers Kill 26 At Tikrit Wedding, ISIS Suspected

At least 26 people were killed Wednesday night, and up to 67 were wounded by suicide bombers who blew themselves up at a wedding party in a village near the Iraqi city of Tikrit, local officials and medics said Thursday.

No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Hajjaj village, which is some 20 kilometers north of Tikrit, the capital of Saladin province. However, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has carried out similar attacks in the region before.

A police source told Reuters two blasts hit the wedding and shortly afterward, two more targeted security forces. There were also ongoing clashes between security forces and militants in the area.

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"The first blew himself up at 8:30 p.m. amid men who were dancing during the celebration," following the second attack minutes later, a police lieutenant colonel said. The bombers detonated explosive belts, the officer said.

Most of the dead were children, a local government spokesman told the Associated Press, and among the dead was the groom. Security forces shut off the area and declared a curfew for fear of more attackers.

The wedding party was held for a displaced family from Iraq’s Anbar province, who are said to be affiliated with an anti-IS tribe, according to BBC News.

There were speculations that the attack was made by an Islamic group mainly because Iraqi security forces retook Tikrit from ISIS in April 2015.

Also, in November, ISIS bomb attacks hit Tikrit, north of the capital, Baghdad. As a result, the Iraqi government is currently in an ongoing battle as it plans to retake western Mosul from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

Iraqi television channel Al Sumaria said at least four suicide attackers carried out Wednesday's assault.