Wave of Baghdad Bombings Kills 157

At least five bombings in Baghdad Wednesday killed at least 157 people and injured a like number, Iraq’s Interior Ministry reported.

The biggest death toll was from a blast at a central market, where 112 people were killed, the ministry said. Four police officers were also killed by a bomb at a police checkpoint, and nearly all the other fatalities were civilians, the report said.

Earlier, the U.S. military said four insurgents were killed and 30 suspected terrorists were arrested Wednesday by U.S. forces near the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

In a statement, the military said forces raided a group of buildings known to be used by insurgents and found explosive materials outside the city, which is 30 miles west of Baghdad, CNN reported.

A helicopter used precision-guided munitions to strike the contents of the building. Secondary explosions at the site confirmed the material inside was explosive, the statement said.