Isis claims responsibility for car bomb near Baghdad airport

A car bomb exploded on the perimeter of Baghdad’s heavily guarded international airport complex on Sunday, wounding five people, the Guardian reported, citing security sources.

The blast occurred at a security checkpoint close to a parking lot where passengers are searched before boarding airport taxis, three sources said. The checkpoint is several kilometres from the terminal building.

Twitter accounts that support Islamic State (Isis) militants distributed messages saying the group claimed responsibility for the attack by what they described as “the first” suicide bomber “to receive the Americans” exiting from the airport.

However, security and police sources gave no indication that any American had been targeted.

An airport official said authorities tightened security while air traffic was normal.

Around two hours later, a roadside bomb exploded in a commercial area of Baghdad about three miles from the airport. Three people were killed and seven wounded, said security sources and medics.

Isis militants who swept through the north of the country in June and hold large parts of western Iraq have claimed responsibility for suicide bombings and other attacks in Baghdad and further afield.

The US top military officer told troops on a surprise visit to Baghdad on Saturday that the momentum in the battle was “starting to turn,” but predicted a drawn-out campaign lasting several years.