2 Baghdad hotels bombed, 10 killed

BAGHDAD -- A coordinated bomb attack struck two of the Iraqi capital's most upscale hotels Thursday night, hitting targets frequented by foreigners and wealthy Iraqis.

Two car bombs packed with explosives detonated within minutes of each other at around midnight Thursday, a security official said. At least 10 people were killed, and 27 injured.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombings, but Islamic State militants have attacked frequently in Baghdad.

The first explosion hit the Babylon Hotel in the Jadriya neighborhood, facing the U.S. Embassy and Baghdad's fortified green zone across the banks of the Tigris River. A car bomb detonated in the hotel's car park, said the security official, who declined to be named because he's not authorized to speak to the media.

The second hit near the Cristal Grand Ishtar, a prominent feature of Baghdad's skyline and formerly the city's Sheraton hotel. The hotel also overlooks the Tigris from the central neighborhood of Karrada.

The bombing at the Babylon Hotel killed six people and injured 14, police officials told The Associated Press. The car bomb blast at the Cristal killed four and injured 13.

Sunni extremist groups have a history of attacking Baghdad's most prominent hotels. In 2010, both the Babylon and the Sheraton were hit in a coordinated bombing attack. The Hamra Hotel, an establishment often frequented by journalists, also was targeted in that attack. At least 36 people were killed in that attack.

A Section on 05/29/2015

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