Car Bomb Targeting Iraq Minority Group Kills 7

A car bomb exploded in a village in northern Iraq mainly populated by members of the Shabak minority on Wednesday, killing seven people, police and a morgue employee said.

The blast in Baybukh, a village north of the city of Mosul, also wounded at least 13 people.

The 30,000-strong Shabak community mostly lives in northern Iraq near the Turkish border.

They speak a distinct language and largely follow a faith that is a blend of Shiite Islam and local beliefs, and are periodically targeted by militant groups.

Iraq is suffering a protracted surge in bloodshed that has killed more than 2,750 people so far this year.

It has been fueled by widespread anger among the Sunni Arab minority, who say they are mistreated by the Shiite-led government and security forces.

Militant groups have also been bolstered by the civil war in neighboring Syria.