Iraqi officials say car bomb in a Shiite town kills 14 people northeast of Baghdad

World Today

Iraqi pro-government militiamen hold a position on a road after the liberation from Islamic State (IS) militants of the village of Sayed Ghareeb, near Dujail, some 70 kilometres north of Baghdad on June 2, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED SAWAF

BAGHDAD – Iraqi police officials said a car bomb attack near a busy market killed 14 people and wounded 37 others on Saturday night in the Shiite town of Balad Ruz, 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad.

Several shops and cars were damaged in the attack. Police sealed off the blast area.

Medics in nearby hospitals confirmed the death toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.

Nobody claimed responsibility, but the Islamic State group, which controls large swaths of the country, frequently claims attacks targeting security forces and Shiite Muslims, who the IS group deems heretics.

Story from the Associated Press