The attack bears the name of al Qaeda , an Interior Ministry official says . Tuesday 's attack came as anti - government protests in Baghdad began to draw huge crowds . `` We are escalating , and soon we will march directly towards the presidential palace , '' said Tawakul Karman , a prominent revolutionist . Another such attack was made in August , senior security officials in Abyan province said then . The defense minister 's office had denied the August report .
The attack bears the name of al Qaeda , an Interior Ministry official says . Tuesday 's attack came as anti - government protests in Baghdad began to draw huge crowds . Another such attack was made in August , senior security officials in Abyan province said then . The defense minister 's office had denied the August report .