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Blasts from Iraqi Militia Weapons Depot Kill 1, Injure 29

Reuters

   BAGHDAD - A large fire broke out on Monday at a weapons depot run by an
   Iraqi militia group, causing explosions heard across Baghdad, killing
   one person and injuring 29 others, authorities said.

   The depot, run by a militia group under the umbrella of the Iran-backed
   Popular Mobilization Forces, was located inside a federal police base
   in the southern suburbs of Baghdad.

   The facility stored short-range and Katyusha missiles, a security
   source told Reuters.

   The fire set off some of the rockets, which struck neighborhoods
   several kilometers (miles) away and injuring mainly children, said
   Qasim al-Attabi, a spokesman for the district's health directorate.

   Health Ministry spokesman Saif Badr said most of the wounded were
   discharged from area hospitals with light wounds.

   A police source said the fire was probably caused by negligence leading
   to poor storage conditions and high temperatures. The Interior Ministry
   ordered an investigation.

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