10 Shia Muslims martyred in Iraq

A series of bombings in the Iraqi capital has struck a crowded restaurant, a police patrol and the homes of two policemen, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25, officials say.

In northwest Baghdad, a parked car exploded outside a crowded restaurant in the Shia neighbourhood of Shula, killing ten people and wounding 25 others, police officials said.

A police first lieutenant said the car was driven by a suicide attacker.

Naseer Ali, owner of a grocery shop in Shula, said he was about 150 metres from the restaurant when the blast went off.

Ali said he and other witnesses rushed to help the victims until the ambulances arrived.

“I was in my shop when I heard a powerful explosion and everybody rushed to the explosion site,” he said.

“Part of the restaurant was damaged and the windows of the nearby shops were shattered. We saw several wounded people screaming for help.”