The death toll from a car bomb at a bus stop in northern Baghdad has risen steeply to 51, with another 75 wounded, according to Iraqi police.
A car bomb explosion at a busy bus stop in northern Baghdad has killed 51 people and left another 75 wounded, police have said.
Police said earlier that the explosion in the mainly Shia Muslim neighbourhood of Hurriya had killed 11.
The explosion took place in the mainly Shia Muslim neighbourhood of Hurriya.
The bomb appeared to have been timed to go off during the early evening rush hour, when the bus stop was crowded with waiting passengers.
The bomb appeared to have been timed to go off during the early evening rush hour, when the bus stop was crowded with waiting passengers.
It is the deadliest bombing in Iraq's capital for months.
It is the deadliest bombing in Iraq's capital for weeks, following a security drive by Iraqi and US forces.
The blast set fire to about 20 shops and razed a multi-storey building, security officials told Reuters news agency.
The blast set fire to about 20 shops and razed a multi-storey building, security officials told Reuters news agency.
The number of attacks by anti-US insurgents and sectarian factions has dropped significantly in Baghdad, although sporadic shootings, bombings and artillery attacks have continued.
The number of attacks by anti-US insurgents and sectarian factions has dropped significantly in Baghdad, although sporadic shootings, bombings and artillery attacks have continued.
The US military, which led an invasion to overthrew Saddam Hussein's government five years ago, has warned that security improvements are fragile and reversible.
The US military, which led an invasion to overthrew Saddam Hussein's government five years ago, has warned that security improvements are fragile and reversible.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has meanwhile ordered a crackdown on Shia militias in Baghdad and Basra in southern Iraq and Sunni Arab insurgents in the north.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has meanwhile ordered a crackdown on Shia militias in Baghdad and Basra in southern Iraq and Sunni Arab insurgents in the north.
Are you in Baghdad? Have you been affected by the blast? Tell us what you've seen by using the form below
Are you in Baghdad? Have you been affected by the blast? Tell us what you've seen by using the form below
