A suicide bomber sneaked into a luncheon gathering called by the leader of a local tribe, killing 30 people and injuring 110 on Friday, police said. According to the AP, the explosion in Youssifiyah was the deadliest attack in Iraq since a suicide bomber killed 55 people at a cafe in Kirkuk on Dec. 11.
The bombing was at a meeting hall adjacent to the residence of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Salih, head of the Sunni al-Garaqul tribe. Police said the sheik had invited tribal senior figures and other members to lunch. The bomber was an outsider who managed to get into the house, police said.
A witness said he and a friend were standing a few yards from the entrance to the meeting room when the bomber blew himself up.
Also Friday, gunmen killed two people when they opened fire on a checkpoint manned by members of the Sons of Iraq in Jurf al-Sakhar, police said. Four other people were reported injured in the attack 40 miles south of Baghdad.
