At least 21 people were killed in bomb attacks targeting Iraqi police and pilgrims on Wednesday, media reports mentioned.

At least 21 people were killed in bomb attacks targeting Iraqi police and pilgrims on Wednesday, media reports mentioned.

Three coordinated blasts targeting Muslim Shiite pilgrims north of Baghdad killed at least nine people and wounded 10 others on Wednesday, Iraqi security and medical officials said.

The bombs exploded near the restive central city of Baquba, targeting a procession of Muslim Shiite worshippers commemorating the anniversary of Ashura', the day of Imam Hussein's (as) martyrdom, the second grandson of the holy Prophet of Islam (sws).

The pilgrims had been walking in the direction of the holy shrine Karbala city to take part in Ashoura commemorations, due to peak on Thursday.

A suicide bomber drove a truck packed with explosives into a police checkpoint in the town of al-Alam near Tikrit, killing 10 people, Reuters reported.

Wednesday's violence were the latest in Iraq's worst violence since 2008, with more than 5,600 people killed this year despite tightened security measures and a swathe of operations against militants.