Iraq was hit by a wave of attacks from before dawn until late in the evening Thursday with 41 people killed and dozens wounded, according to AP. The bomb and shooting attacks made for the country's deadliest day in more than three weeks, rattling nerves as families prepared to gather for a holiday weekend. More than 130 people have been killed in violence across the country since the start of August. Three of the attacks accounted for more than half of the casualties. A morning car bomb in Baghdad's northeastern neighborhood killed seven people and wounded 31. Around mid-day, another car bomb struck near the headquarters of local security forces in the northern city of Daqouq. As police rushed to the scene, a roadside bomb exploded, killing seven policemen. Another 35 people were hurt, police said. Then, shortly before sunset, gunmen in cars opened fire on an Iraqi army checkpoint near the town of Mishada, killing seven soldiers and wounding eight. Mishada is 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Baghdad. Iraqi officials are tightening security ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this weekend. Authorities are seeking to thwart a possible upsurge in violence as crowds gather in public places such as parks, shrines and mosques to mark the occasion.
