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Deadly car bomb blast in Baghdad Blast rips through Baghdad crowd
(about 3 hours later)
At least 16 people have been killed and more than 30 injured in a car bomb blast in northern Baghdad, Iraqi officials say. A car bomb blast which ripped through a crowd of shoppers near a bus stop in northern Baghdad has killed at least 16 people and injured more than 30.
They say the bomb went off near a bus stop in the capital's Shaab district, a mainly Shia area. The bomb went off near a market in the capital's Shaab district, a mainly Shia area, officials say.
Reports say women and children were were among the casualties. It was not immediately clear what the target was. Iraqi police believe it was a deliberate attempt to kill the maximum number of civilians possible.
Violence has declined in Iraq recently, but on Monday, a suicide bomber killed 25 people in the north of the country. Violence has declined in Iraq recently but on Monday, a suicide bomber killed 25 people in the north of the country.
Nearly 70 people died earlier this month in two suicide attacks in Baghdad.Nearly 70 people died earlier this month in two suicide attacks in Baghdad.
On Wednesday, a US military spokesman said that attacks across Iraq had fallen to levels of the early months of the US-led war which began in March 2003.On Wednesday, a US military spokesman said that attacks across Iraq had fallen to levels of the early months of the US-led war which began in March 2003.
'Sending message'
The car with the bomb was parked near a bus terminal between a hospital and a busy market.
Iraqi officials say four children and at least three women were among those killed in the blast, which happened on Thursday afternoon.
No-one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Police think it was a deliberate attempt to slaughter civilians at random, probably by al-Qaeda in Iraq, as a way of sending a message that "we are still here", the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says.
Our correspondent adds that the poor and unremarkable Shaab district has been attacked several times before.
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