47 people die in fuel tanker bombing in Iraq
Islamic state militants claim attack on fuel tanker at a checkpoint in Hilla, Iraq, which leaves 47 dead and dozens injured
Some 47 people died when a fuel tanker was blown up at a checkpoint outside the city of Hilla south of Baghdad, according to reported.
According to early reports, thirty-nine of the victims were civilians, and the rest of the victims were police officers.
The attack, which happened shortly after noon local time while dozens of cars were at the checkpoint, also left dozens injured.
The so-called Islamic State had claimed the attack, in a post on the pro-IS Amaq news agency website.
"A martyr's operation with a truck bomb hit the Babylon Ruins checkpoint at the entrance of the city of Hilla, killing and wounding dozens," Reuters quoted the group's statement.
Iraq has seen a rise in violence in the past month, with suicide attacks killing more than 100 people.
