Bombings kill 19 people in and around Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- A series of attacks, mainly car bombs, in Iraq killed at least 19 people and wounded dozens Saturday, authorities said.

Police officials said the deadliest attack occurred Saturday night when a car bomb exploded on a commercial street in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Amil, killing nine people and wounding 24 others. Several shops and cars were damaged.

Earlier, police said a car bomb blast near a bus stop killed three people and wounded 15 in southern Baghdad. A bomb explosion near an outdoor market killed three people in Mhamoudiya.0, just south of Baghdad.

Another car bomb went off near a row of restaurants in the Shiite town of Balad Ruz, killing four and wounding 14. Balad Ruz is 45 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualties from the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.

Nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks. Iraq sees near-daily bombings often claimed by the Islamic State group that seized a large swath of the country last year. The Iraqi army, backed by Shiite and Sunni militia, has been retaking territory.