Explosion Near US Consulate in Erbil, Iraq Leaves Three Dead

A car explosion near the US consulate in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, on Friday, April 28, left at least three dead. According to Reuters, the US State Department stated that none of its staff or guards at the consulate were harmed in the explosion. An eyewitness told Reuters that the explosion was loud and thick smoke was seen rising over the 'Ain Kawa' area, which is a Christian neighborhood. The report mentioned that there are many restaurants and cafes in this area that are frequented by foreign citizens. According to a security official from the 'Ain Kawa' area, at least three people were killed and 14 were injured in this explosion. However, some unverified reports indicate that nine people were killed in the blast. Al Jazeera reported that a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near the entrance of the US consulate in the Ain Kawa area. A local official told Reuters that the Islamic State group wanted to show its presence in the area with this act. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for this explosion and two other bombings in Baghdad on Friday, which resulted in at least 27 deaths. In a statement, the group said, 'Islamic State fighters detonated two car bombs in the heart of the Iraqi capital and another car bomb in Erbil.' The Kurdistan region of Iraq has seen fewer such attacks until now. The last attack by the Islamic State in Erbil was in November of last year when a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb in front of a government building, killing at least five people.