51 killed in a car bomb blast in Baghdad

Iraqi medical and security officials say two car bombs have exploded in Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad killing 51 people. 

Police said the first attack today evening was a double car bombing in a shopping area of Sadr City, a Shiite neighborhood in the east of the city, killing 31 people and wounding 34 others.

Later on in the night, another car packed with explosives detonated in the nearby neighborhood of Ur, also predominantly Shiite, killing 11 more people.

Medical officials confirmed the death toll and like police, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press.

Baghdad has been on edge since the Sunni militants led by the Islamic State extremist group seized the northern city of Mosul in June and threatened the capital.