70 people have been killed in twin bomb blasts just outside Baghdad in Iraq. . The explosions, caused by two roadside bombs, also left 100 people injured yesterday. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks, the deadliest of which hit the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City, just north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

According to sources, the first bomb exploded on a motorcycle followed by a suicide bomber blowing himself up as people gathered to help the injured from the first blast. The Baghdad blasts occurred just hours after government troops and policemen came under attack from IS militants. 18 policemen were killed in the assault on military barracks near Fallujah in the western Anbar province.