Baghdad attack: Isis claims responsibility for suicide bombing that kills at least 20

Militant jihadist group says it targeted Shiite militia members

The bomber detonated his device at the Shiite district of Kadhimiyah (REUTERS)

At least 20 people have died after a suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint in northern Baghdad on Sunday, Iraqi officials said.

The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device at one of the busy entrances of the Shiite district of Kadhimiyah, killing at least 10 civilians and four policemen, a police officer said.

At least 35 other people were wounded, he added.

Three more civilians were killed and 11 wounded in a bomb explosion in an outdoor market in Baghdad's western suburb of Abu Ghraib, another police officer said.

In an online statement, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Kadhimiyah attack, saying it targeted a gathering of security forces and Shiite militia members.

Security forces and public areas, mainly in Shiite neighbourhoods, are one of the most frequent targets for the extremist group, which controls key areas in mainly northern and western Iraq.

Since late last year, the group has suffered a string of territorial losses, most recently last month in Fallujah, where it was driven out by Iraqi forces after occupying the city for more than two years.

The extremists have continued to carry out near-daily bombings in and around Baghdad as well as complex attacks in other countries.