Baghdad car bomb kills at least 48

At least 48 people have been killed in Baghdad in the third blast in the Iraqi capital in three days, security and medical sources say, BBC reports.

A car packed with explosives blew up near car dealerships in the southern Bayaa area of the city. More than 50 people were injured.

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

The Islamic State group claimed Thursday's blast, AFP reported.

Baghdad saw a wave of deadly suicide attacks by IS in the first few days of 2017, but the number had dropped until recently.

The IS group has stepped up its attacks since the Iraqi army, aided by US-led coalition strikes, launched its campaign to dislodge the group from its stronghold of Mosul in the north four months ago.