Two suicide bombers target Shia mosque in Baghdad

More than 50 people were injured in the blast that shook the predominantly Shia Shulaa neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital.

The first bomber detonated his explosives inside the mosque while the second blew himself up shortly after security forces gathered at the scene.

"The suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt blew himself up inside the Great Prophet mosque in the Shula district, north of Baghdad, after Maghrib prayer," a source from the Ministry of Interior told The New Arab.

"The second exploded as security forces tried to rescue victims from the first blast," he added.

Four of the victims were members of the security forces, sources said.

The Shulaa district is one of the Baghdad's main strongholds of support for the Sadrist movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr.

Hundreds of supporters had arrived into the area to participate in protests at the capital's Tahrir Square planned for Friday.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.