12 die in Baghdad bank blasts

A series of bomb blasts near the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad has killed 12 people and injured at least 25 others, Iraqi officials said today.

A Baghdad police officer and a Ministry of Interior official said the blasts from several roadside bombs may have been set to target bank employees as they were leaving work.

The police officer said the mid-afternoon bombs detonated over an eight-minute period, suggesting a co-ordinated attack.

Black smoke could be seen over central Baghdad’s skyline following the attack.