Islamic State suicide bomber kills six outside Shia mosque in Baghdad

BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber killed at least six people outside a Shia mosque in the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, according to police and medical sources, in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

Seven others were wounded in the attack, which took place in the mainly Shia Ubaidi neighborhood of eastern Baghdad and targeted worshippers leaving the mosque, police said.

"The suicide attacker was trying to enter the mosque before a guard stopped him, but he blew himself up," said one policeman near the scene of the attack.



In a statement posted online, Islamic State said the attack targeted "rejectionists", a term used by the militants to describe Shia Muslims.

Police said a search operation was immediately started to chase any possible accomplices.



A total of 888 Iraqis were killed and another 1,237 injured in acts of "terrorism, violence and armed conflict" in November, according to figures from the United Nations.

Baghdad was the worst affected governorate, with 325 killed.