Iraq hit by deadly attacks on Eid al-Adha holiday

At least 30 people were killed in a series of attacks around Iraq, with dozens more injured.

Twin bomb attacks in Baghdad's mainly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City on Saturday evening killed at least 13 while hours earlier, a bomb near a playground in the Bawiya neighbourhood of the capital killed several people, including at least three children.

Another bomb exploded near Baghdad on a bus carrying Shia pilgrims, some of whom are reportedly Iranian and in the northern city of Mosul, gunmen burst into the homes of families belonging to the Shabak minority group, leaving several dead.

Authorities had put security measures in place to try to prevent attacks over the four-day holiday of Eid al-Adha.

"Nobody expected this explosion because our neighbourhood has been living in peace, away from the violence hitting the rest of the capital," Bawiya resident Bassem Mohammed was reported as saying by AP.

"We feel sad for the children who thought that they would spend a happy time during Eid, but instead ended up getting killed or hurt," he added.

Violence in Iraq is down since the height of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, but is still common.

In recent months the rate of attacks has increased, mostly targeting security services and Shia Muslims.

In August, more than 90 people were killed in a wave of attacks before Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.