Iraq: Explosion in Baghdad's Tahrir Square late Oct. 1

Event

A minor explosion occurred in Baghdad's Tahrir Square late Oct. 1. Unconfirmed reports indicate the blast was caused by an explosive device placed in a car. The explosion occurred amid protests in Tahrir Square demanding justice for protesters that were killed during the October 2019 protests. Emergency personnel are at the scene and are investigating the incident.

Authorities will almost certainly maintain increased security in the area as investigations continue. Localized transport disruptions are likely near the scene of the incident in the coming hours.

Advice

Avoid the area until authorities give the all-clear. Keep a safe distance from large concentrations of security personnel. Plan accordingly for localized ground travel disruptions. Heed the instructions of security officials.