Officials say bombings in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, kill at least 13 people

BAGHDAD – A series of bombings, mainly targeting Shiite neighbourhoods, killed at least 13 people in Baghdad on Saturday, said Iraqi officials.

Police officials said one bomb exploded Saturday near a small restaurant in Baghdad’s mainly Shiite southeastern district of Zafaraniyah, killing four people and wounding 13.

Later, police say a bomb blast missed a passing police patrol, but killed three civilians and wounded eight in western Baghdad. They say the blast also damaged several cars.

At night, a blast near a cafe in Baghdad’s Shiite district of al-Ameen killed three people and wounded eight others.

Also, a bomb exploded near a bus stop and a line of shops selling vegetables and fruit in Baghdad’s Shiite neighbourhood of Mashtal, killing three people and wounding seven others.

Medical officials in nearby hospitals confirmed the casualties from all the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to journalists.

Iraq sees near-daily attacks, mainly targeting the country’s Shiite majority and security forces. The attacks often are claimed by the Islamic State group, which seized about a third of the country last year.