Car bombs kill 27 people north of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visits the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Al-Abadi vowed to track down and punish those who were behind the smashing of rare ancient artifacts in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. On Thursday, the Islamic State group released a video purportedly showing militants using sledgehammers to smash the statues, describing them as idols that must be removed. The act brought global condemnation. (AP Photo) Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visits the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Al-Abadi vowed to track down and punish those who were behind the smashing of rare ancient artifacts in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. On Thursday, the Islamic State group released a video purportedly showing militants using sledgehammers to smash the statues, describing them as idols that must be removed. The act brought global condemnation. (AP Photo)

By Associated Press February 28, 2015 2 min read

BAGHDAD (AP) – Car bombs targeting a crowded market and Shiite militia checkpoints north of Iraq’s capital killed 27 people Saturday, authorities said, as the country’s prime minister vowed to punish Islamic State militants who smashed ancient artifacts in a northern city.

The first bombs exploded near the market in the town of Balad Ruz, 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 50, police and hospital officials said.

A suicide car bomber later attacked a checkpoint manned by Shiite militiamen near the city of Samarra, killing eight Shite fighters and wounding 15, authorities said.

Samarra and surrounding areas have been under constant attacks by the Islamic State group, which holds about a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in its self-declared caliphate. Clashes between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants followed the attack around Samarra, 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad.

A second suicide bomber attacked another Shiite militia checkpoint just south of Samarra, killing eight fighters and wounding 16, police and hospital officials said.