Violence continued in Iraq on Saturday, with three parked car bombs exploding in central Baghdad, killing at least 51 people and wounding 90.

According to police and hospital officials, the bombs were placed about 100 metres apart and exploded at nearly the same time. Most of the victims were in the busy al-Sadriyah shopping district in central Baghdad. At least 10 other parked vehicles were destroyed.

Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the scene, and emergency services rushed to help the wounded. Saad Hussein is a relative of an injured person.

“Three explosions occurred in Sadriyah, one exploded in the entrance of al Sadriyah, one in the middle and the third near al Wathba Square.”

In a separate incident, a truck driving at high speed slammed into a bus stop in a town south of Baghdad on Saturday, killing about 20 people waiting for buses and wounding 15.

According to police, the incident didn't appear to be an accident because the truck, an empty fuel tanker, did not have any obvious mechanical problems that would have caused the crash.