Suicide bombings kill at least eight in Baghdad: officials

BAGHDAD: Suicide bombers struck two Shiite-majority areas of the Iraqi capital on Monday, killing at least eight people, security and medical officials said.

In the deadliest attack, a bomber targeted a market in the Amil neighbourhood in southern Baghdad, killing at least six people and wounding 16 or more.

Another bomber detonated explosives near a garage for taxis and buses and a tent providing refreshments to passersby as part of a Shiite religious ritual, killing at least two people and wounding at least 11.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but the Islamic State jihadist group carries out frequent attacks targeting members of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority, whom it considers heretics.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, and while the jihadists have since lost significant ground, they still have the ability to carry out frequent attacks in government-held areas.