The coordinated wave of attacks began around 6:30 a.m. local time (10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Washington). Witnesses said that all main roads and many government offices in the Iraqi capital remained closed for hours after…

The Baghdad blasts included at least five booby-trapped cars, two operated by suicide drivers. Police were able to diffuse or safely detonate an additional three booby-trapped cars, officials said. Additionally, a Katyusha rocket was fired into a western Baghdad neighborhood, killing one person and injuring another.

Qassim Atta, a spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command, told the Iraqia station that the explosions targeted civilians randomly, and not specific establishments.