'Islamic State suicide bombers' kill 30 at Iraq Shia shrine

Suicide bombers and gunmen have killed at least 30 people at a Shia shrine in Iraq, in an attack claimed by so-called Islamic State.

The attack began when a man detonated an explosives belt at the entrance to the mausoleum of Sayid Mohammed bin Ali al-Hadi, in the town of Balad.

Reports say gunmen then stormed the site, shooting at worshippers.

Meanwhile the death toll from Sunday's suicide bombing in Baghdad has again been raised, from 250 to 292.

The Baghdad attack targeted a shopping complex in the mainly Shia Muslim Karrada district of the city.

So-called Islamic State said it was behind the bombing, the deadliest in the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.

The group follows an extreme form of Sunni Islam and often targets Shias, who it regards as apostates.

IS militants overran large parts of northern and western Iraq two years ago, but government forces have since regained much of the territory.

In response to the battlefield setbacks, including the recent loss of the western city of Falluja, the militants have stepped up their attacks on civilians.

The Iraqi government has been accused of not doing enough to protect its citizens and has stepped-up security in Baghdad in response to the latest violence.