Baghdad rocked by explosions - at least two killed

A series of explosions rocked Baghdad today, killing at least two people and injuring 10.

At 9.30am local time, a bomb exploded as a police patrol was driving through the northern Azamiyah neighbourhood, killing a policeman and a civilian bystander, said Interior Ministry official Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi. Three people were injured in the blast, including another policeman.

About half an hour later, a car bomb targeting another police patrol exploded in Nidhal Street, injuring at least seven people, police said. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

The wounded included four policemen and three civilian bystanders, police Lt. Ali Mitaab said at the scene.

An earlier explosion near a Shiite mosque in the northern Oteifiyah neighbourhood caused no casualties, police said. The roadside bomb exploded outside the blast walls surrounding Buratha mosque, causing minor damage, said police Lt. Maitham Abdul-Razzaq.

At about the same time, a mortar round slammed into a generator in Baghdad’s eastern Palestine Street, causing no casualties, said police Lt. Bilal Ali Majid.