RantCrush Top 5: May 30, 2017

This morning, two massive bombs went off in Iraq, killing at least 31 people. One explosion happened outside a popular ice cream place in central Baghdad and another in a car during rush hour in a downtown area. At least 69 additional people were injured, officials said. ISIS took responsibility for the attacks in two separate statements, which came just a few days into Ramadan. A lot of people were out on the streets and in the area of the ice cream parlor, as those following the holiday break their fast after sundown and go out to socialize.

2 terror attacks in central Baghdad over the last 10hrs targeting innocent civilians. A bloody start to the holy month of Ramadhan in #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/EW6As3HBPW

— Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) May 30, 2017

The Iraqi military has been successful in pushing ISIS out of the country and the terrorist group has steadily lost territory. The northern city of Mosul is almost free; however, authorities believe the group will turn to more insurgent bombings and attacks in response. That’s a common desperate tactic of terror groups, in an attempt to distract from the fact that they have lost ground.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.