Death Toll From Suicide Truck Bomb Attack Surges As Iraqi Police Investigation Continues

June 21, 2009 12:06 p.m. EST

Kirkuk, Iraq (AHN) - The death toll from a suicide explosion near the northern city of Kirk in Iraq has reached at least 80 people, just 24 hours after the attack, police officials said Sunday.

The number of people injured has reached 200 after a suicide truck bomb exploded in a busy area near a mosque in the town of Tarzan, located about 10 miles southwest of the oil-rich city of Kirk.

The blast destroyed at least 50 buildings and left a deep crater in the ground in Tarzan, a predominantly Turkmenistan Shiite town.

But it is still not clear if the attack was masterminded by an al-Ada group. The officials said rescuers are still sweeping through the rubble for survivors.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nourish Mali said Sunday that the attack is an attempt to increase instability and "spread mistrust of the Iraqi forces."

The incident was reported at around 1 p.m. local time (1000 GMT). The attack killed several women, children and elderly people.

The blast occurred when dozens of worshippers were leaving the packed Al-Afoul mosque in the town after a daily noon prayer.

The town's population is a volatile mix of Kurds, Arabs, Christians and members of the Turkmenistan community.

The attack comes ahead of the planned June 30 withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Iraqi cities and major towns. But the security threat still remains across the country, six years after the U.S.-led coalition occupied Iraq.

Kirk is 155 miles (250 kilometres) from Iraqi capital of Baghdad.