Abadi orders weapons caches out of Baghdad in wake of deadly blast
In the wake of a horrific explosion at a weapons cache site that killed four people, Iraq's prime minister has ordered that arms depots be removed from residential areas in Baghdad and other cities.
BAGHDAD — A weapons depot exploded in a residential area east of Baghdad on Sept. 2, killing four people and injuring 11 others. The depot belonged to a militia affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).
Though no one has claimed responsibility yet, on Sept. 16, Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement and Saraya al-Salam faction within the PMU, accused unnamed militias of responsibility for this incident and said that some militias keep their arms depots in residential areas intentionally to ensure their domination over these areas.
According to official statements, the explosion caused dozens of missiles to fly over the neighborhoods of al-Obeidi, al-Mashtal, al-Batoul, al-Kamliya, al-Amari, al-Maamel, New Baghdad, Zaytouna, Palestine Street and the area around Shaab International Stadium.
The incident resulted in massive destruction stretching over 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), leaving destroyed houses and a massive crater.
