Dozens dead as funeral bombed in Iraq

The death toll from a bombing at a funeral in a Shiite neighbourhood in Baghdad has risen to 51, Iraq officials said.

Police officials say the attack early this evening involved a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives-laden car near mourners gathered in a funeral tent in the Iraqi capital’s Sadr City neighbourhood, as well as a second blast caused by a suicide bomber on foot.

The officials say women and children are among the dead, and that at least 70 people are wounded.

Medics in nearby hospitals confirmed the casualty figures.

The assault followed attacks elsewhere earlier in the day that killed 11.