At least 73 killed in Iraq suicide attacks

Suicide bombers killed 65 worshippers at two mosques in eastern Iraq today while in Baghdad two car bombs destroyed the blast wall protecting a hotel housing foreign journalists and killed eight Iraqis.

The suicide attackers targeted the Sheik Murad mosque and the Khaniqin Grand Mosque – both homes to Shiite Muslims – in Khanaqin, 90 miles north-east of Baghdad, as dozens of people were attending Friday prayers.

The police command said 65 people were killed and 75 injured in the largely Kurdish town.

In Baghdad, the blast near the Hamra hotel in Baghdad knocked down the blast walls protecting the hotel and blew out windows, but did no structural damage.

“What we have here appears to be two suicide car bombs that attempted to breach the security wall in the vicinity of the hotel complex,” US Brig. Gen. Karl Horst told reporters at the scene.

Authorities say at least eight people died.