BAGHDAD (AP) – A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car Monday in a bustling commercial area in the Iraqi capital, killing at least six civilians and wounding 10 others, an official said, the latest in a recent bout of violence claimed by the Islamic State group.
Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Saad Maan said a member of the security forces spotted the car bomber and opened fire, but was unable to prevent him from detonating his vehicle outside the Jamila wholesale market in Baghdad’s sprawling Shiite district of Sadr City.
Another police officer and two medical officials in nearby hospitals put the casualty figures at 14 killed and 42 wounded. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.
IS quickly claimed responsibility in an online statement, saying the bomber was targeting Shiites. The Associated Press could not verify the authenticity of the statement, but it was posted on a militant website commonly used by the extremists.
The Islamic State group has carried out a string of bombings in Baghdad over the past week, killing nearly 100 people. The deadliest was last week when a suicide bomber in another commercial area in Sadr City killed 41 people and wounded 64 others.