Baghdad car bomb blast kills at least 7

A car bomb exploded near a hospital in central Baghdad, killing at least seven people, police said.

The blast which took place late on Monday, was also near the site of a July bombing that killed more than 300 people, in the worst single bomb attack to ever hit the Iraqi capital.

An explosives-laden van exploded in Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood a little before midnight (2100 GMT), setting several nearby shops on fire, police said.

A police colonel reported an initial toll of seven killed and at least 15 wounded for the blast, which went off near Abdel Majid hospital.

The figures were confirmed by interior ministry sources.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing but all such attacks recently have been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.