BAGHDAD - A car bomb devastated a funeral tent in a predominantly Shiite area of Baghdad Thursday, the bloodiest in a series of bombings that killed at least 40 people.
The explosions were the last weeks of bombing that killed over 200 people, which raises concerns about uptick of violence the U.S. military is preparing to withdraw from the country.
The violence is largely directed to the majority Shiite community and the Iraqi security forces, causing a major challenge to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his fragile coalition government which was last month.
The car exploded around 2 pm on Thursday, had parked the cars of other mourners, several meters away from the store, not to arouse suspicion, police said. Several other cars were burned and the force of the blast damaged nearby houses.
At least 37 people, including four children and three women were killed and 78 wounded, police and hospital officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose information.
Ali Kamil, a 22 year old student, who lives nearby, said he rushed to the scene and saw the flames still raging. He said young people were throwing stones at Iraqi security forces, accusing them of failing to provide protection.
"I noticed that a college friend of mine died in the blast along with another friend of mine, and I saw the other four friends in the neighborhood of evil," he said.
Three other Iraqis were killed in sporadic attacks aimed at Iraqi soldiers and an official of the electricity early Thursday.
The attack occurred at the first roadside bomb about 8:30 near a police patrol in a commercial complex in Baghdad Karradah district, killing one civilian and wounding five others including three policemen, officials said responsible.
A bomb targeting Iraqi soldiers patrolling the neighborhood of Bab al-Muadham Baghdad exploded near an hour and a half later, killing one bystander and wounding three others, police and hospital officials.
Chief of central Baghdad Electricity Directorate Ismaeel al-Obeidi, also escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb struck the convoy carrying two vehicles to work, officials said.
One of his guards was killed and two wounded in the blast, which occurred about 100 yards from his office.
The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information.
Violence has fallen sharply in Iraq in recent years, but attacks continue almost daily.
Over 170 people were killed in attacks on Shiite pilgrims and Iraqi security forces last week, breaking two-month pause.
Violence has continued in question, al-Maliki is imminent if the request for U.S. troops to remain after the end of the year.
His State of the Union speech Tuesday, President Barack Obama is closing the door to maintain a significant U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond the deadline.
"This year, our civilians to create a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people while we finish the job to put our troops in Iraq," Obama said.