DHAKA:  At least 36 people have been killed in a series of car bomb and mortar attacks in Shia areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

A suicide car bomb hit an army checkpoint near a restaurant in the northern district of Talibiya on Thursday afternoon, killing nine people, officials said.

Less than an hour later, two of car bombs exploded in the district of al-Dawlai in western Baghdad, killing 16 people and wounding 35.

Five mortar rounds hit the neighbouring Shia district of al-Shaoula, killing another five and wounding 21 others, reports Al-Jazeera.

A car bomb then exploded in the nearby Hurriya district, leaving six dead and wounding 14 others.

An Iraqi Shia political figure blamed the attacks on ISIL.

BDST: 0907 HRS, OCT 17, 2014