Islamic State’s bomb kills 10, hurts 22 in ice cream shop in Baghdad; Twitter gasps at horror

A car bomb exploded outside a popular ice cream shop in central Baghdad, killing 10 people and wounding 22, hospital and police officials have said.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, which Iraqi officials said involved apparently remotely detonated explosives inside a parked car. The officials on Monday spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

The attack came just days into the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast during daylight hours. After sundown, families break their fast and Baghdad’s restaurants and cafes quickly fill up.

Videos posted to social media showed chaotic scenes on the streets surrounding the blast. A number of wounded lay on the ground, others propped themselves up on the colourful park benches outside the ice cream shop. One young girl, wearing a ribbon and bow in her hair, wandered the scene dazed.

Heartbreaking footage of the aftermath of tonight's Baghdad blast. He stands over a body and shouts "he's getting married in two weeks!" pic.twitter.com/Tg5CZj0MlW

— Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) May 29, 2017

THERE WAS A CAR BOMBING NEAR AN ICE CREAM SHOP IN BAGHDAD. INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE KILLED. YALL STILL CALL US TERRORISTS? #prayforbaghdad pic.twitter.com/YAX5vo0m4T

— #prayforbaghdad (@silkloves) May 29, 2017

Men, women and children were enjoying ice cream on a hot night when the car bomb went off in central #Baghdad. I don't know what to say. pic.twitter.com/xVL5pFXVh8

— Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) May 29, 2017

Ramadan is often marked by an uptick in violence in Iraq.

Last year, Baghdad was rocked by a huge truck bomb attack that targeted a popular retail district in the city center where young people and families were shopping for new clothes ahead of the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. The blast killed hundreds in the single deadliest event in Baghdad since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. The IS group also claimed responsibility for that bombing, which ultimately led to the resignation of Iraq’s interior minister.

Monday's attack comes as Iraqi troops are slowing pushing IS fighters out of their last strongholds in the northern city of Mosul. Iraqi commanders say the offensive, which recently entered it's eight month, will mark the end of the IS caliphate in Iraq, but concede the group will likely increase insurgent attacks in the wake of military defeats.