Officials: 4 car bombs target Shiite mosques in Baghdad, kill 19 worshippers and wound over 70

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say four car bombs have struck Shiite mosques in Baghdad, killing at least 19 people and wounding 72.

A police officer says the deadliest bombing was in western Jihad neighbourhood when a parked car bomb exploded as worshippers were leaving a mosque after Friday prayers. Seven people died there and 25 were wounded.

Another police officer says four worshippers were killed and nearly 20 were wounded in a bombing in eastern Qahira neighbourhood. He says three people died and 15 were wounded in the eastern Zafaraniyah district and that another car bomb killed five and wounded 14 in the northeastern Binook neighbourhood.

Three health officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to talk to the media.