Authorities say series of bombings around Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, kill at least 12 people

BAGHDAD – Officials in Iraq say a series of bombings around the capital, Baghdad, have killed at least 12 people.

Police say the deadliest in Wednesday’s bombings took place in Baghdad’s northern Shula neighbourhood, where a parked car bomb exploded in an outdoor market, killing five shoppers and wounding 12. Police say another car bomb in a commercial area in the central Karrada area killed four civilians and wounded 14.

Police say three civilians were killed and eight were wounded by a bomb in another market in the eastern Maamil area.

Medical officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.

Iraq remains gripped by violence as al-Qaida-linked militants took control of two cities in Anbar province, west of Baghdad.