By Xinhua
Baghdad : Two suicide car bombings struck Iraqi soccer fans taking to the streets to celebrate Iraqi football team's victory in Baghdad, killing at least 55 people and injuring 135, police said.
An attacker detonated his explosives-laden car among a crowd of jubilant Iraqi football fans celebrating in Mansour district in western Baghdad Wednesday evening after Iraq defeated South Korea 4-3 on penalties and made it to the 14th Asia Cup final, a police source said.
The deadly bombing killed at least 30 people and wounded 75, according to the source.
In eastern Baghdad, another suicide car bombing attacked an Iraqi Army checkpoint in Ghader district, killing at least 25 people and injuring 60, the source said, adding that most of the victims were soccer fans.
The historic victory of the Iraqi football team sparked wild celebrations in Baghdad. Many citizens rushed to the streets and fired in the air while motorists honked their horns. Thousands of fans gathered in central Baghdad to celebrate, singing and chanting "Iraq, Iraq!"
After Iraqi football players entered the semi-finals of the Asia Cup on July 21, gunfire of celebrations killed two people and wounded 15 others in Baghdad.