Mortar attack on Shiite part of Baghdad kills 7, wounds 19; Islamic State extremists suspected

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, center, arrives at the Baghdad Airport in Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. Al-Zaben met with Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi and reiterated Jordan's "support to Iraq in its war against the terrorist gangs," according to an official statement. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim, Pool) (The Associated Press)

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The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, left, meets with Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, right, at the Iraqi defense minister headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. Al-Zaben met with al-Obeidi and reiterated Jordan's "support to Iraq in its war against the terrorist gangs," according to an official statement. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, center, inspects a guard of honor during a welcome ceremony at the Iraqi defense minister headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. Al-Zaben met with Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi and reiterated Jordan's "support to Iraq in its war against the terrorist gangs," according to an official statement. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say mortar shells have struck a Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad, killing at least seven civilians.

A police officer says two women are among the dead in Wednesday's attack on a commercial area in the northern Shula neighborhood. He says 19 civilians have been wounded.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information to media.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. It bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group, which often targets members of the Shiite denomination of Islam. Islamic State extremists control vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, where they have declared an Islamic caliphate.