Iraqi officials say bombings have killed 8 people in and south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say a series of bombings targeting commercial streets and security forces in and south of Baghdad has killed eight people.

Police officials say a parked car bomb went off near shops in the southern holy Shiite city of Karbala on Tuesday, killing three people and wounding 16.

Also, police say a car bomb killed one person in the town of Hafriyah, just south of Baghdad. Minutes later, another car bomb exploded near a bus stop in the same town, killing two people and wounding five.

In southern Baghdad, a car bomb targeting a security checkpoint killed two policemen and wounded nine.

Hospital medics confirmed the casualty figures. All officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.