At least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after an arms depot exploded in the Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, late on June 6, police and medical sources said.
"An arms depot exploded.... The security forces have opened an inquiry to determine the cause," Baghdad's security operations command said in a statement.
Police officials said the blast appeared to be caused by heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and shells, belonging to an armed group.
They said that as many as 90 people were injured in the explosion.
Medical sources confirmed the toll and said that women and children were found among the victims.
The blast struck near a mosque in the mostly Shi'ite neighborhood in northeast Baghdad.
Witnesses reported heavy damage to homes and other buildings in Sadr City, which is a stronghold of populist Shi'ite cleric and militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
Sadr's followers emerged with the most seats in Iraq's May 12 parliamentary elections. Earlier on June 6, parliament ordered a recount of the votes in response to charges of electoral fraud.
