Islam Times - 8 killed, 24 injured in another day of carnage in Baghdad

Islam Times - At least eight people have been killed and 24 others injured in a multiple car bomb attack and a mortar attack in Baghdad.

On Tuesday morning, six people were killed and 14 others injured in the Iraqi capital when three car bombs went off simultaneously in the northwestern neighborhood of Shula, Reuters reported.

In addition, the police said multiple mortar rounds landed in the northern district of Chikok, killing two people and injuring 10 others.

Bombings and shootings have recently increased across Iraq, and many believe that the attacks are being carried out to undermine the central government.

Official figures show that September was the bloodiest month in Iraq in almost two years, with attacks killing 365 people, the highest monthly death toll since August 2010.

The statistics, which were compiled by the health, interior, and defense ministries, show that 182 civilians, 88 police officers, and 95 soldiers were killed in attacks in September.

The violence reached a crescendo on September 8 and 9, when more than 30 attacks killed at least 88 people and injured more than 400.

September 30 was the second deadliest day of the month, with a death toll of 33 and 106 injured.

Violence has increased in Iraq since December 2011, when an arrest warrant was issued for fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, who has been charged with running a death squad targeting Iraqi officials and Shia Muslims.

In response, the government has stepped up efforts to increase security across the country over the past few months.