Explosion in Taji North of Baghdad Caused by Old War Remnant

An explosion occurred Saturday evening in the Taji area north of Baghdad after a fire broke out at a health waste site and spread to nearby grassland, where a foreign object believed to be an old war remnant detonated. Security sources said the blaze was brought under control quickly. The sources said teams responded promptly and extinguished the fire shortly after it spread from the waste area to the surrounding grassland. An investigation has been opened to determine the full circumstances of the incident. Security sources denied reports that a rocket had fallen in the area or that an improvised explosive device had exploded. They said the blast was linked to the detonation of the suspected wartime remnant rather than an external attack.