Baghdad: The toll from car bombs that ripped through the car parks of two upscale Baghdad hotels has risen to at least nine killed and dozens wounded, officials said on Friday. Militants were able to bring the bombs, which exploded just before midnight on Thursday and were heard across the city centre, inside the walled compounds of the Ishtar and Babylon hotels in central Baghdad.
The blast at the Ishtar shattered windows of the recently renovated hotel, turning rows of expensive cars and SUVs into charred, twisted metal. The force of the blast turned some cars on their sides, and others were burned, dented or had windows smashed. More than 15 heavily-damaged vehicles still sat in the car park on Friday.
The Ishtar is a popular site for wedding celebrations, and the area which also includes a club and the Palestine hotel is crowded with people. A man named Raad, who was standing near the blast site at the Ishtar, said it was one of the most secure places for both foreigners and Iraqis, but a bombing can happen even here.
