Iraq: 28 dead as twin bombs rip through market in Baghdad

The blasts hit during the Saturday morning rush in a busy market area (AFP)

At least 28 people have been killed and 40 people wounded in a double bombing at a busy market in the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, officials say.

The explosions happened near shops selling spare parts for cars in the al-Sinak market, More than 50 people were injured, according to police quoted by Reuters news agency.

Baghdad has seen frequent attacks, often targeting Shia districts.

IS released a statement saying two of its militants had carried out the bombings wearing suicide vests.

The jihadist group is under pressure from an Iraqi army offensive further north in Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in the country.

Many of the victims in Saturday's attacks worked in spare parts shops in the largely Shia area, witnesses said.

"They were gathered near a cart selling breakfast when the explosions went off," local shopkeeper Ibrahim Mohammed Ali told the AFP news agency.

BBC contributed to this report