Update: At least 36 killed in bomb attacks against Shiite areas in Baghdad

Up to 36 people were killed and 100 others wounded Tuesday in a series of bomb attacks targeting Shiite neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, security sources said.

One of the attacks occurred in the district of Shaab as a roadside bomb exploded in a crowded outdoor market.

The attack was then followed by a suicide bomber's explosion after he detonated his explosive vest as people gathered to help victims from the first explosion, killing 15 more and wounding 37 others, a police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Saad Maan, Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) spokesman responsible for Baghdad's security, put the death toll at 11 and 37 injured.

According to Maan, the suicide bomber was apparently a woman as indicated by the attacker's body remains.

The attackers seem to have followed the age-old strategy of masterminding an initial explosion which attracted security forces and other people, and then setting off another bomb in order to inflict heavier casualties.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the massive twin bomb explosions in the district of Shaab, adding that one of their suicide bombers hurled hand grenades at Shiite paramilitary members, known as Hashd Shaabi, in the marketplace before detonating his explosive vest, according to the statement whose authenticity could not be independently verified.

The IS, however, denied that the suicide bomber was a woman.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, ordered the detention of the top officer responsible for security in the district of Shaab for interrogation following the blast, according to a statement issued by Abadi's office.

Elsewhere, a booby-trapped car exploded in a fruit and vegetable market in the Shiite-Sunni district of Rasheed in southern Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 10 others, another police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The third attack occurred in the Shiite district of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, when a truck packed with explosives exploded in a Jamila's wholesale market, killing around 16 people and wounding 53 others, the source added.

Sadr City was the scene of a deadly bomb attack a week earlier, whose responsibility was claimed by the IS, killing 64 people and wounding 87 others.

Iraqi security forces intensified security measures throughout Baghdad as intelligence reports indicated the potential of further car bombs targeting the city in the coming few hours, the source said.

The IS frequently target areas where large numbers of people gather, including checkpoints, markets, coffee shops and mosques across Iraq.

Iraq has witnessed an intense wave of violence since the IS controlled sections of northern and western Iraqi regions in June 2014.

A UN report estimated that 741 Iraqis were killed and 1,374 others wounded in terrorist attacks, violence or armed conflict throughout Iraq in April only. Endit