While some suspect al-Qaeda, no group has claimed responsibility yet At least three explosions have rocked Baghdad, killing at least 20 people and wounding 50 others, in a fresh wave of coordinated bombings targeting government buildings in the Iraqi capital. The attacks come just days before the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, and with barely a month to go before the country holds its first elections in three years.
Two car bombs exploded outside the gate of the Justice Ministry building, before a suicide bomber blew himself up close to the Interior Ministry at around 1330 hrs (1030 GMT).
Suicide bombers then walked into the Justice Ministry alongside armed militants, who attacked the building dressed in Facilities Protection Forces (FPS) uniforms.
Six blasts then followed, believed to have been caused by explosive belts worn by the militants.
All militants were killed in the attack, with Baghdad Operations Command forces claiming they had regained control of the area by Thursday evening.
Sources inside the Justice Ministry told Arabstoday gunmen and suicide bombers managed to penetrate the building, killing guards, receptionists as well as public auditors and other employees.
23 people died, sources revealed.Among the dead were six policemen.
The assault took place in the busy area of Alawi, close to the heavily fortified Green Zone.
It is generally considered to be one of the most crowded places in the Iraqi capital and is also home to the Foreign and Justice ministries and other key government offices.
A large number of government staff, including guards and reception staff, were reportedly killed in the blasts.
Justice Minister Hassan Shammari was not inside the building at the time of the incident, sources said.
Around 150 people were detained within the Justice Ministry while police secured the area.
Security forces moved quickly to establish a security cordon around the area, when another car bomb reportedly failed to go off.
"Some terrorists tried to infiltrate the Justice Ministry," said Sabah Noori, spokesman for Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service.
"The bombs...were coordinated with them (militants) trying to get into the Ministry."
Gunfire was heard after the blasts, and smoke could be seen rising above the neighbourhood, witnesses said.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, but Sunni militants including those linked to al-Qaeda often target government officials and offices in a bid to destabilise Iraq.
The bombings come as Iraq’s political situation becomes increasingly desperate, with three-month long demonstrations still gripping provinces up and down the country.