A suicide bomber drove a booby-trapped car into a police patrol in central Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least four bystanders and wounding three others, police said.

The blast took place at about 1:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) on a road near the Iraqi Industry Ministry, sending thick black smoke rising into the sky, the police said. The wounded included two police officers, the police added.

The US military had no immediate information on the incident.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks in the past two weeks since a new transitional government was sworn in on April 28, leaving more than 400 people dead.

Source: Xinhua