Truck bomb in Baghdad market kills 60

Iraqi police officials said a massive truck bomb ripped through a popular Baghdad food market in the early morning hours Thursday, killing at least 60 people.

The two police officials said the truck detonated in the Jameela market in Baghdad’s crowded Sadr City neighborhood shortly after dawn. They said at least 86 people were wounded in the attack.

Three hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they’re not authorized to speak to the media.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, but Islamic State militants commonly target predominantly Shiite neighborhoods such as Sadr City, with the goal of sending a message to the Shiite-dominated government.

The Sunni militant group currently holds territory in about a third of Iraq.

Last Wednesday a minibus loaded with explosives detonated on a crowded street in Sadr City, killing seven people, including two children.