A militant group of al-Qaida ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Tuesday claimed responsibility for an earlier car bomb attack in central Baghdad which killed over 50 people, said a statement posted on an Islamist website.

"With the grace of God, a lion from the martyrdom-seeking brigades succeeded in striking a recruitment center for the renegade police force volunteers," said the statement signed by the military wing of the Tawhid and Jihad group.

The statement could not be verified yet.

A powerful blast took place Tuesday outside a recruitment center at a police station in Haifa street in central Baghdad, killing over 50 people and injured dozens of others.

At least nine cars were destroyed in the suicide car bomb attack which sent thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Haifa street was the scene of a fierce battle between US forces and Iraqi insurgents on Sunday, in which at least 13 people were killed and 55 others wounded, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry.

Source: Xinhua