34 Killed, 88 Wounded Under Heavy Security as Iraqis Went To Polls

Updated at 10:15 p.m. EDT, May 1, 2014

Iraqis went to the polls today. Increased security seemed to have the effect wanted, as there were fewer reported casualties than in recent days. Security officials, however, admitted there were at least 50 attacks today on polling stations. In those attacks and others, at least 34 people were killed and 88 more were wounded.

There were also allegations of irregularities with Sunnis claiming they were prevented from voting in several areas in and around Baghdad. Also, one person was arrested with extra voter cards.

In Anbar:

Despite ongoing violence, many in Anbar were able to participate in the election. No polling stations were set up in Falluja, however, and few were open in Ramadi.

Iraq forces killed a suicide bomber in Ramadi.  An I.E.D. near a polling center exploded and killed two soldiers. Mortar fire killed three civilians and wounded five more.

An ISIL/DAASH leader was killed in al-Sajar.

Two people were killed and three more were wounded when a shell struck a polling station in Albu Farraj.

A bomb near a Kubaisa poll center wounded two soldiers.

In Falluja, two people were killed and 15 more were wounded during shelling.

Elsewhere:  

A policeman was killed in Baiji when he held firm to a suicide bomber attacking a polling station. A suicide bomber killed five people at a poll center and wounded at least 17 more.

In Debis, two election employees were killed in an attack against their vehicle. Two women were killed in a blast. Five security personnel were wounded when a bomb exploded.

In Mosul, security forces shot killed a suicide bomber. A bomb wounded three people at a polling station. Another bomb at a separate station wounded two people. A bomb wounded two people at a checkpoint. At least two more suicide bombers were killed. A bomb wounded three security personnel.

A suicide bomber in Ishaqi killed two policemen and wounded four more.

Mortars targeting a poll center in Muqdadiya left one dead and seven wounded. A roadside bomb killed three people and wounded seven more.

A bomb killed one person and wounded two more in Adhaim.

Six people were wounded during a quarrel between rival political supporters in Samawa.

Another political quarrel left three wounded in Basra.

In Tuz Khormato, a policeman and a child were wounded in a blast near a poll center.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.