IS claims Baghdad suicide bombings that killed 28

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Iraqi people gather at the site of bomb attack in a busy market area in Baghdad\'s central al-Sinek neighborhood , Iraq, Saturday, Dec 31, 2016. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)

BAGHDAD – A pair of suicide bombings minutes apart hit a central Baghdad market on Saturday, killing 28 people and wounding at least 54, prompting security forces to ban traffic from key streets at the centre of the Iraqi capital, police and hospital officials said.

The twin attacks hit al-Sinak, a busy market selling car accessories, food and clothes as well as agricultural seeds and machinery. Minutes after the first suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden belt, the second one struck amid the crowd that gathered, according to the officials.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks in al-Sanak in a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, confirming that the blasts came from a pair of suicide bombers.

Later on Saturday, three separate attacks in and around Baghdad killed eight people and wounded 17. Those killed included one policeman.

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