IS claims responsibility for twin attacks in Iraq

Citing police officials, AP reports that a suicide auto bomb tore through a marketplace killing at least 35 people and wounding 72.

In a separate blast to the east of the city, a further seven people were killed and 25 wounded, the sources said.

There were conflicting numbers of casualties, with Reuters reporting 31 dead in both attacks and the Associated Press saying at least 40 dead.

ISIS circulated a statement to its followers which said the market attack was to target “rejectionists”, which is the name they call Shi’ite Muslims. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Baghdad, noted that the bombings were the second deadliest ones in the province since late July, when at least 100 civilians were killed in attacks also claimed by ISIS.

The Khan Bani Saad blast came on the eve of the feast marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and shocked the nation.

Baghdad vowed to increase security in Diyala after that bombing, but now the government is focusing most of its attention on combating ISIS in the western province of Anbar.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. The area, which is mainly Shia, was the scene of intensive clashes last year between Islamic State militants, Iraqi forces and pro-government militias.

The ISIS extremist group controls northern Iraqi city of Mosul and has been ruling in parts of Iraq and Syria under a self-declared Caliphate.