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Among the charred debris from a car bomb, a lone man plays a cello – a lament to the destruction of his city.

Karim Wasfi has garnered international attention after his poignant response to another bombing in the restive country — in this case an explosion that killed 10 people in west Baghdad.

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The strains of his song, Baghdad Mourning, drew a curious crowd to the street earlier this week, just hours after the explosion, and footage of the performance has since been shared around the world.

Two other car bombs had struck the Iraqi capital the same afternoon, claiming another nine lives, and leaving dozens of people injured.

“People were united against the tragedy. There was sincerity and kindness, tears and hugs,” said Wasfi, describing the crowd that formed as he played.

The former conductor of Iraq’s national symphony orchestra sat tall as he played, stationed beside a burnt out cafe he once visited to read musical scores.

The father of two said it felt like a natural gesture. “I wanted to show what beauty can be in the ugly face of car bombs, and to respect the souls of the fallen ones,” he said.

Iraqi authorities lifted a decade-old night-time curfew on Baghdad in February, seeking to restore a sense of normality to the capital. But instead, the explosions have increased. “I’m worried that people are losing hope and surrender to the situation,” said Mr Wasfi. “I play to show life is worth living.”