Two suicide bombers targeted Iraqi police checkpoints in commercial areas in central Baghdad during rush hour Thursday, September 17, killing at least 21 people, officials said. The Islamic State group swiftly claimed responsibility for the blasts, the Associated Press reports.

Both attacks were carried out by bombers on foot, wearing explosives-laden vests, two police officers said. One bomber struck in Baghdad's Bab al-Sharji area, killing nine civilians and three police officers there. Forty-five people were wounded in that explosion.

The second bomber hit in al-Wathba Square, killing nine people, including four policemen, and wounding 31.

In a statement posted on its Twitter accounts, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it targeted police and Shiite paramilitary forces. The Associated Press could not immediately verify the authenticity of the statement, but its language and phrasing is consistent with past IS claims of responsibility.