Dozens killed in Baghdad twin bombing

A suicide car bomb attack near a military base north of Baghdad and another blast near a market in the Iraqi capital killed at least 18 people on Thursday, police said.

Both explosions occurred at around 9:00 am (0600 GMT).

The attack by a bus station in Taji, a town just north of Baghdad that is home to one of Iraq's largest military bases, killed at least seven people and wounded 18, a police colonel said.

Another car bomb explosion in the capital's mostly Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad Jadida killed at least 11 people and wounded 27, the same source said.

A Baghdad health official confirmed the casualty figures.

There was no immediate claim for the blasts but the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for nearly all such attacks in recent months.

Under heavy pressure on the battlefield, the extremist organisation has struck back with bloody attacks in Baghdad.

The deadliest spate of bombings to hit the capital this year was in May when three attacks on the same day, including a devastating blast in Sadr City, killed close to 100 people.

The spike in Baghdad bombings added pressure on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to declare the launch two weeks ago of an offensive to retake Fallujah, an IS bastion that lies just 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the capital.