Car and roadside bombs kill 12 in Iraq

Two parked car bombs and two roadside bombs in the Iraqi capital this morning killed at least 12 people and wounded 35 others, police said.

A car bomb detonated at 9.30am (6.30am Irish time) at the car park in central Baghdad, near the health ministry and the so-called Medical City complex of buildings that include several hospitals and a forensic institute.

Seven people were killed and 23 wounded in that blast, a police officer said. Seconds after the detonation, a mortar landed in the area as well, the officer said.

Some 11 cars were also damaged by the explosion. He added that 11 civilian cars were damaged.

Another parked car bomb went off near a police patrol in Palestine Street in eastern Baghdad, killing two civilians and wounding six others, said the police officer.

Also, in Baghdad’s south-eastern area of Zafaraniyah, a roadside bomb targeting another police patrol killed one policeman and injured two pedestrians, the officer said.

Two more civilians were killed and four others injured when a roadside bomb went off next to a mini bus travelling through Baghdad’s eastern neighbourhood of Baladiyat, the police officer added.