Roadside bomb, suicide bomber kill at least 7 in New Baghdad district

BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- At least seven people died on Tuesday in Baghdad when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt after a roadside bombing in a Shiite area of Iraq's capital.

The bombings occurred near the al-Samarrai mosque in Baghdad's New Baghdad, or Baghdad Al-Jidida, district, which is a predominantly Shiite area. At least 25 people were wounded in the blasts.

An Iraqi police source told the Kuwait News Agency that although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the bombings were likely carried out by the Islamic State.

The Islamic State is a Sunni militant Islamist group that considers Shiites to be heretics -- often carrying out attacks targeting Shiites, including a bombing in July that killed more than 300 people in Baghdad's predominately Shiite Karrada commercial district.

The bombings on Tuesday come after at least eight people were killed on Sunday following three bombing attacks, including one claimed by the Islamic State which the Amaq News Agency, known as the militant group's media outlet, said was carried out to target Shiites.

The bombings come as Iraq's Muslims prepare for the holy month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar which begins on Oct. 1.