29 people killed in Baghdad car bombing

10.31am

At least 29 people have died after a car bomb ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.

Two police officers said the explosives-laden car that went off on Wednesday morning at a crowded outdoor market in Baghdad's eastern district of Sadr City also wounded up to 50 people, several seriously.

There are fears the death toll will rise further.

Shortly after the explosion, the Sunni extremist Islamic State group, which sees Shiite Muslims as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement.

It said the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that.

Earlier

At least 14 people have died after a car bomb blast in a predominantly Shia area of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Iraqi police said an explosives-laden car blew up at a crowded outdoor market in Baghdad's eastern district of Sadr City.