car bomb Baghdad
The charred remains of a car which exploded in the Habibiya area, near the vast district of Sadr City in northern Baghdad, on 15 February Getty Images

At least 48 people have been killed in a car bomb attack in Iraqi capital Baghdad, security and medical sources said. The attack is the third deadly blast in the city in as many days.

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A car packed with explosives blew up near car dealerships in the southern Baghdad district of Bayaa, reported AFP. Fifty people were injured in the blast.

The district is reportedly a majority Shia Muslim area.

Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

At least 18 people died in another attack on used-car dealers on Wednesday and four were killed the day before.

IS has stepped up terror attacks since the Iraqi military backed by a US-led coalition launched its campaign to oust IS from its Iraqi stronghold in Mosul.

Baghdad Iraq Isis Islamic State