A powerful blast hit Baghdad Wednesday, leaving at least 18 people dead, 22 injured, sources in the local law enforcement authorities told.

Axar.az reports, according to the source, a car rigged with explosives exploded in the Northern part of Baghdad.

Another explosion occurred on a crowded street in the Iraqi city of Tikrit at the same time as the blast in the capital.

"Eight are killed and 52 are wounded from the Tikrit al-Atibaa street attack," Reuters cited governorate media director Jamal Aqaab saying.