Islamic State claims responsibility for fatal Baghdad mosque blasts

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Baghdad in which at least nine people died.

“Two suicide bombers wearing explosive belts blew themselves up in front of the Rasul al-Azam [mosque] in the Shuala district in the northwest of the Iraqi capital,” a police official said, adding that more than 20 people were wounded.

“The first suicide bomber blew himself up among the worshippers as they left”, he said. “The second explosion targeted police forces who had arrived to treat the wounded.”

Isis said in a statement posted on jihadi forums that the first attacker blew himself up inside the mosque and the other detonated his explosives when security forces arrived at the scene.

The explosions in the mainly Shia neighbourhood came on the eve of a planned protest in Baghdad that radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has called for and said he would personally attend.

Sadr called on his supporters to attend protests in the capital and other cities to demand improved public services and an end to corruption. Tens of thousands of his supporters are expected to take part.